PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 105 
turned each other over, or lifted each other up by turns 
——they soon quitted the ants they had seized, and en- 
deavoured to catch others: I have seen some who en- 
gaged in these exercises with such eagerness, as to pur- 
sue successively several workers; and the combat did 
not terminate till the least animated, having thrown his 
antagonist, accomplished his escape by concealing him- 
self in some gallery*.” He compares these sports to 
the gambols of two puppies, and tells us that he not only 
often observed them in this nest, but also in his artifi- 
cial one. 
I shall here copy for you a memorandum I made last 
year. QOnthe ninth of May, at halfpast two, as I 
was walking on the Plumstead road near Norwich, on 
a sunny bank I observed a large number of ants (Lormi- 
ca fusca, L.) agglomerated in crowds near the entrances 
of their nest. They seemed to make no long excursions, 
as if intent upon enjoying the sun-shine at home; but 
all the while they were coursing about, and appeared to 
accost each other with their antenna. Iixamining them 
very attentively, J at length saw one dragging another, 
which it absolutely lifted up by its antennae, and carry- 
ing it in the air. I followed it with my eye, till it con- 
cealed itself and its antagonist in the nest. I soon no- 
ticed another that had recourse to the same manceuvres; 
but in this instance the ant that was attacked resisted 
manfully, a third sometimes appearing inclined to inter~ 
fere: the result was, that this also was dragged in. A 
third was haled in by its legs, and a fourth by its man- 
@ Hutber, 170— 
