88 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



another, they may often be seen formed into a bridge, of two 

 palms' length, and of the breadth of a finger, which has no 

 other support than that of its two extremities. One would 

 suppose that their own weight would sink them ; but it is 

 certain that the masses remain floating during the inundation, 

 which lasts some days. 1 



You must now be fully satiated with this account of the 

 constant fatigue and labour to which our little pismires are 

 doomed by the law of their nature ; I shall therefore 

 endeavour to relieve your mind by introducing you to a 

 more quiet scene, and exhibit them to you during their 

 intervals of repose and relaxation. 



Gould tells us that the hill-ant is very fond of basking in 

 the sun, and that on a fine serene morning you may see them 

 conglomerated like bees on the surface of their nest, from 

 whence, on the least disturbance, they will disappear in an 

 instant. 2 M. Huber also observes, after their labours are 

 finished, that they stretch themselves in the sun, where they 

 lie heaped one upon another, and seem to enjoy a short 

 interval of repose ; and in the interior of an artificial nest, in 

 which he had confined some of this species, where he saw 

 many employed in various ways, he noticed some reposing 

 which appeared to be asleep. 3 



But they have not only their time for repose ; they also de- 

 vote some to relaxation, during which they amuse themselves 

 with sports and games. " You may frequently perceive one 

 of these ants (F. rufd) (says our Gould) run to and fro with a 

 fellow-labourer in his forceps, of the same species and colony. 

 It appeared first in the light of provisions ; but I was soon 

 undeceived by observing that after being carried for some 

 time it was let go in a friendly manner, and received no per- 

 sonal injury. This amusement, or whatever title you please 

 to give it, is often repeated, particularly amongst the hill- 

 ants, who are very fond of this sportive exercise." 4 A nest 

 of ants which Bonnet found in the head of a teazle, when en- 

 joying the full sun, which seems the acme of formic felicity, 



1 Voyages dans VAmerique Merid. i. ] 87. 

 3 Huber, 73. 



2 Gould, 69. 

 * Gould, 103 — 



