PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 63 
ground. ‘The sagacious ants soon found out that by 
these bridges they could escape from their moated castle. 
The discovery was communicated to the whole society, 
and in a short time the threads were filled with trains of 
busy workers passing to and fro?. 
Ligon’s account of the ants in Barbadoes affords an- 
other most convineing proof of this :—as he has told his 
tale in a very lively and interesting manner, I shall give 
it nearly in his own words. 
“The next of these moving little animals are ants or 
pismires; and these are but of a small size, but great in 
industry; and that which gives them means to attain to 
this end is, they have all one soul. If I should say they 
are here or there, I should do them wrong, for they are 
every where; under ground, where any hollow or loose 
earth is; amongst the roots of trees; upon the bodies, 
branches, leaves and fruit of all trees; in all places with- 
out the houses and within; upon the sides, walls, win- 
dows, and roofs without; and on the floors, side walls, 
ceilings, and windows within; tables, cupboards, beds, 
stools, all are covered with them, so that they are a kind 
of ubiquitaries. ‘We sometimes kill a cockroach, and 
throw him on the ground; and mark what they will do 
with him: his body is bigger than a hundred of them, 
and yet they will find the means to take hold of him, and 
lift him up; and having him above ground, away they 
carry him, and some go by as ready assistants, if any be 
weary; and some are the officers that lead and show 
the way to the hole into which he must pass; and if the 
vancouriers perceive that the body of the cockroach lies 
across, and will not pass through the hole or arch 
4, Gould, 85. | 
