60 PERIFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
M. Huber observed, that when he disturbed those that 
were at the greatest distance from the rest, they ran to-— 
wards them, and, striking their head against them, com- 
municated their cause of fear or anger,—that these, in 
their turn, conveyed in the same way the intelligence to 
others, till the whole colony was in a ferment, those neu- 
ters which were within the tree running out in crowds 
to join their companions in the defence of their habita- 
tion. The same signals that excited the courage of the 
neuters produced fear in the males and females, which, 
as soon as the news of the danger was thus communi- 
cated to them, retreated into the tree as to an asylum. 
The legs of one of this gentleman’s artificial formi- 
caries were plunged into pans of water, to prevent the 
escape of the ants;—this proved a source of great en- 
joyment to these little beings, for they are a very thirsty 
race, and lap water like dogs*.. One day, when he ob- 
served many of them tippling very merrily, he was so 
cruel as to disturb them, which sent most of the ants in 
a fright to the nest; but some more thirsty than the rest 
continued their potations. Upon this, one of those that 
had retreated returns to inform his thoughtless com- 
panions of their danger; one he pushes with his jaws; 
another he strikes first upon the belly, and then upen 
the breast; and so obliges three of them to leave off 
. their carousing, and march homewards; but the fourth, 
more resolute to drink it out, is not to be discomfited, 
and pays not the least regard to the kind blows with 
which his compeer, solicitous for his safety, repeatedly 
belabours him :—at length, determined to have his way, 
* Gould, 92. De Geer, ii. 1067. Huber, 5, 132. 
