LETTERS ON ENTOMOLOGY. 89 
others, till the whole colony was in a ferment. 
The legs of one of M. Huber's formicaries were 
plunged into pans of water to prevent the escape 
of the ants ; this proved a source of great enjoy- 
ment to these little beings, for they are a thirsty 
race, and lap water like dogs. One day when 
he observed many of them drinking very merrily, 
he was so cruel as to disturb them, which sent 
most of the ants to the nest, but some, more 
thirsty than the rest, continued their potations. 
Upon this, one who had retreated returned 
to inform his thoughtless companions of their 
danger : one he pushed with his jaws, another 
he struck on the body, and so obliged three 
of them to leave off carousing and return j but 
the fourth, more resolute to drink it out, was not 
to be discomfited, and paid not the least regard 
to the kind blows with which his compeer re- 
peatedly belaboured him : at length, determined 
to have his way, he seized him by one of his 
hind legs, and gave him a violent pull : upon 
this, leaving his liquor, the loiterer turned round, 
and opening his threatening jaws, with every sign 
of anger, went very coolly to drinking again ; 
but his monitor, without further ceremony, rush- 
ing before him, seized him by the jaws, and at 
last dragged him off in triumph to the nest. 
