88 
ANIMaL intelligence. 
saw these ants on a fine day assembled on the surface of their 
nest, and behaving in a way that he could only explain as 
simulating festival sports or other games. They raised them- 
selves on their hind legs, embraced each other with their fore- 
legs, seized each other by the antennae, feet, or mandibles, and 
wrestled — but all in friendliest fashion. They then let go, ran 
after each other, and played hide and-seek. When one was 
victorious, it seized all the others in the ring, and tumbled them 
over like ninepins. 
This account of Huber’s found its way into many popular 
books, but in spite of its clearness won little credence from the 
reading public. ‘ I found it hard to believe Huber’s obser- 
vation,’ writes Forel, ‘in spite of its exactness, until I myself 
had seen the same.’ A colony of the pratensis several times 
gave him the opportunity when he approached it carefully. 
The players caught each other by the feet or jaws, rolled over 
each other on the ground like boys playing, pulled each other 
inside the entrances of their nest, only to come out again, and so 
on. All this was done without bad temper, or any spurting of 
poison, and it was clear that all the rivalry was friendly. The 
least breath from the side of the observer was enough to put an 
end to the games. ‘I understand,’ continues Forel, ‘that the 
aftair must seem marvellous to those who have not seen it, 
especially when we remember that sexual attraction can here 
play no part.’ 
MacCook also gives an account of habits of play as in- 
dulged in among ants of the other Hemisphere : — 
At one formicary half a dozen or more young queens were 
out at the same time. They would climb up a large pebble 
near the gate, face the wind, and assume a rampant posture. 
Several having ascended the stone at one time, there ensued a 
little playful passage-at-arms as to position. They nipped each 
other gently with the mandibles, and chased one another from 
favourite spots. They, however, never nipped the workers. 
These latter evidently kept a watch upon the sportive prin- 
cesses, occasionally saluted them with their antennae in the 
usual way, or touched them at the abdomen, but apparently 
allowed them full liberty of action. 
As to leisure, Bates writes 
The life of these Ecitons is not all work, for I frequently saw 
them very leisurely employed in a way that looked like recre* 
