8212 



Insects, 



they would occasionally halt, as if bewildered or uncertain which 

 way to proceed, and then often double back in the opposite direc- 

 tion. I was at a loss to account for this, unless, as I have suggested, 

 they are guided by scent, which might be overpowered by that arising 

 from the object in hand. This reminds me that though they neither 

 shake hands nor rub noses, they have a somewhat similar practice, 

 seldom meeting without a friendly salute or recognition, at which time 

 the quivering antennae are momentarily crossed, whether receiving or 

 imparting information I will not venture to say, but doubtless there 

 must be some object in it. When an ant discovers some prey or victim 

 it is astonishing how quickly others congregate, though they soon 

 disperse on finding their services are not needed. One I saw go up to 

 another and quietly relieve it of its burden, the latter apparently satis- 

 fied of its being in safe hands. Another I saw attempting to kill a 

 small slender dusky caterpillar of about a third of an inch in length, 

 having three longitudinal light stripes on the anterior part of the back 

 and sides ; it resisted, endeavouring to shake its assailant off, but all 

 to no purpose ; the ant, holding on with the tenacity of a bull-dog or 

 blood-hound, was carried off by the caterpillar till another ant joined 

 in the attack. I then came to the rescue, and with a blade of grass 

 endeavoured to rid it of its tormentors, but it was not till 1 had taken 

 up another, stronger and stiffer, that I succeeded in doing so ; but by 

 this time the caterpillar's strength was failing. Many insects were 

 passed by unnoticed or unheeded, worms or caterpillars never. One 

 of the latter had a very narrow escape : descending from a privet by 

 its web it alighted on a walk where there were but few ants prowling; 

 it was seized on at once by the tail, but before they could get a firm 

 hold the caterpillar, suddenly bowing its back, jerked itself backwards, 

 throwing its assailant a considerable distance to the rear ; then re- 

 doubling its speed, it succeeded after many narrow escapes in gaining 

 the shelter of a neighbouring bank, on to which it climbed, assisted 

 by a sloping blade of grass. On revisiting the spot at intervals during 

 the afternoon I found them employed as before, and even as late as 

 8 p. m., though decreased in number, they were as active and busy as 

 ever, and 1 continued to watch them as long as the failing light ad- 

 mitted of my doing so. On returning, at a quarter past 10, I observed 

 by candle-light a few running up and down as before, though a slight 

 drizzling rain was falling at the time: at half-past 11 there were still 

 a few remaining; one 1 stopped carrying a load, which it dropped at 

 once ; on taking a last look, a little after midnight, they had not all 

 retired, notwithstanding the rain had increased. 



