1 877.] 
Ouv Six-footed Rivals , 
443 
general conclusion is that these tiny creatures can impart to 
each other information of a very definite character, and not 
merely general signals, such as those of alarm. It has been 
found that ants fetched by a messenger for some especial 
purpose seem, when they arrive at the spot, to have some 
knowledge of the task which is awaiting them, and set 
about it at once without any preliminary investigation. The 
cases which we quote elsewhere from Mr. Belt are very con- 
clusive on this point. In order to decide whether ants are 
really fetched to assist in tasks beyond the strength of any 
one of their number, Sir John Lubbock instituted a very 
interesting and decisive experiment. It is well known that 
if the larvae of ants are taken out of the nest, the workers 
never rest till they have fetched them back. Sir John 
Lubbock took a number of larvae out of his experimental 
formicary, and placed them aside in two parcels very un- 
equal in number. Each of these lots was soon discovered 
by an ant, who at once fell to work to carry the larvae back 
to the nest, and was soon joined by others, eager to 
assist. The observer reasoned thus : — If these ants have 
come to the spot by accident, it is probable that the number 
who arrive at each lot will be approximately equal. On the 
other hand, if they are intentionally fetched to assist in re- 
moving the larvae, the number in each case will most likely 
bear some proportion to the amount of work to be done. 
The result was that the large heap of larvae was visited by 
about three times as many ants as the small one. Hence 
the inference is plain that ants can call assistance to any 
task in which they are engaged, that they can form some 
estimate of the amount of labour that will be required, and 
can make their views in some manner known to their com- 
panions. The manner in which, when on the march, they 
are directed by their officers, and the promptitude and pre- 
cision with which a column is sent out to seize any booty 
indicated by scouting parties, show likewise a completeness 
and precision of language very different from anything we 
observe in quadrupeds and birds. 
But as to the nature of this language, which Mr. Belt 
rightly calls “ wonderful,” we are as yet very much in the 
dark. Sounds audible to our ears they scarcely can be said 
to emit. Their principal organs of speech are doubtless 
the antennae : with these, when seeking to communicate 
intelligence they touch each other in a variety of ways. 
There can be no doubt that, with organs so flexible and so 
sensitive, an interchange not merely of emotions but of 
ideas must be easy. 
