The Ant 
81 
certain ants of foreign kinds regular raids 
are made upon the dwelling-places of other 
species, the pupae of which are carried off. 
My attention has been drawn more than once 
to a large migration of ants among our own 
familiar kinds. On one occasion the body 
of ants, quite compact in their formation, 
measured over six feet in length and quite 
three feet in breadth. On examination of 
their old dwelling-place and the numbers 
still remaining behind, it was evident 
that it was no military expedition, but 
simply a large body going off, as do the 
bees at swarming time, to found a new 
colony. Since then I have not infrequently 
observed the same thing happening, though 
the size of the formation has generally been 
smaller. 
Care for the Young. — As in all forms 
of insect life, the actions of the ants are 
ascribed simply to instinct or mental 
impulse ; but call it by what name you 
will, there are several points about the 
ant which are distinctly worthy of notice. 
Amongst others, great solicitude for the 
young. The way in which the helpless 
miniature insect is succoured and tended 
