98 
ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 
It is not a little surprising to see that the ants bring in not 
only seeds of large size and fallen grain, but also green capsules, 
the torn stalks of which show that they have been freshly 
gathered from the plant. The manner in which they accomplish 
this feat is as follows. An ant ascends the stem of a fruiting 
plant of shepherd’s-purse (Cap sella bursa-pastoris), let us say, 
and selects a well-filled but green pod about midway up the 
stem, those below being ready to shed their seeds at a touch. 
Then, seizing it in its jaws, and fixing its hind legs firmly as a 
pivot, it contrives to turn round and round, and so strain the 
fibres of the fruit-stalk that at length they snap. It then de- 
scends to the stem, patiently backing and turning upwards 
again as often as the clumsy and disproportionate burden 
becomes wedged between the thickly set stalks, and joins the 
line of its companions on their way to the nest. In this manner 
capsules of chickweed (Stellaria media) and entire calyces, con- 
taining the nutlets of ealamint, are gathered ; two ants also 
sometimes combine their efforts, when one stations itself near 
the base of the peduncle and gnaws it at the point of greatest 
tension, while the other hauls upon and twists it. I have 
never seen a capsule severed from its stalk by cutting alone, 
and the mandibles of this ant are perhaps incompetent to per- 
form such a task. I have occasionally seen ants engaged in 
cutting the capsules of certain plants, drop them, and allow their 
companions below to carry them away ; and this corresponds 
with the curious account given by AElian of the manner in 
which the spikelets of corn are severed and thrown down ‘ to 
the people below,’ tw StJ/xo) tw Karoo. 
The recognition of the principle of the division of 
labour which the latter observation supplies, is further 
proved by the following quotation from the same author. 
A dead grasshopper which was being carried into their 
nest was — 
Too large to pass through the door, so they tried to dismember 
it. Failing in this, several ants drew the wings and legs as far 
back as possible, while others gnawed through the mu cles 
where the strain was greatest. They succeeded at last in thus 
pulling it in. 
The same thing is strikingly shown by the following 
quotation from Lespes : — 
If the road from the place where they are gathering their 
