INTELLIGENCE OF ANTS. Ants are sensitive to sound-waves, even outside of human range; they are also keenly sensitive to changes in moisture and temperature. When a captive colony was placed by an experimenter near the tire, the heat was so grateful to its members, says lie, that "They embraced each other, and skipped and danced like playful lambs or kittens." Alany cases of ants indulging in what seems to us to be sportive exercise or play are recorded. Their care for the cleanliness of the growing young and the promptness with which they remove the dead and bury them shows a sanitary instinct. The complete and apparently willing suppression of the individual for the good of the colony almost surpasses man's comprehension of self-abnegation. The law of division of labor rules among ants. Certain groups of individuals perform only cer tain labors. Labor-saving devices are known to ants, for groups of workers will procure and drop food or building stuffs to waiting companions be low and thus save much labor of transportation. They show ingenuity in building bridges, and may even span gaps by means of a rope made up of their own living bodies linked together. More over, there is little doubt in the minds of ant observers that ants communicate with their fel lows. The imparting of information seems to he
done by means of the antenme, which they cross and rub together. They show great solicitude for injured and helpless companions. Information relative to the plight of unfortnnate members is in some way conininnieated by the discoverer to others. and a rush is made to the rescue. Fallen dAris is removed from the partially buried one, or the waylaier is lifted out of pitfalls. Ants are able to recognize the myriads of members of their own including their slaves, and even those that have been taken away in infancy. All these facts and many others convince us that ants in some manner communicate with their com panions. Otherwise. how are the discovery and the whereabouts of food too large for removal by (me made known to the others; how is the intel ligence of a mishap to a luckless companion and the necessity for aid communicated by the discov erer to others; or how ire cannibalistic and slave making wars so managed that the whole fighting community is ready to go out siBHIR:11WOUSly ?