The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-06
Grbe Ginres, Mem Bloomfield, 1Da.
Some OnrIosItIes Of Instinct.

A writer in Harwicke's Science Gossip
IA makes some very curious and inter
esting statements, with regard to the do
ings of a colony of ants which he has kept
confined for some years in tormicary.-
At one time, he says, the glass sides of my
formicary got so obscured with moss and
rubbish, that the view into the interior was
nearly shut out, so 1 removed them with
the purpose of cleaning them, leaving the
block Of earth standing sufficiently safe.-
On replacing the glass, since many ants
were running over the perpendicular
mound of earth in some excitement, I'M
ayoidably two or three of them got pressed
into the earth, in places where there were
no burrows, and were fixed between the
glass and the mould, quite unable to move
at all. Not long afterwards / was aston
ished to see several ants with much eager
ness running burrow straight towards the
very point where one of these ants was
incarcerated. They worked very hard, and
after time they excavated until they
reached the imprisoned ant, upon which
they pulled away and loosened the soil
around it until they haG made sufficient
room for it to wriggle out. Having watch
edthe completion of this wonderful sight,
looked to see what was the fate Of the other
imprisoned ants. found that there were
two other parties Of ants eagerly digging
out two more of their comrades. They ac-
complished their object in due time in
one case running their separate galleries
from three directions, all meeting at the
precise spot where their lost companion
was. A fourth ant was lightly pressed
against the glass close to the very bottom
of the case, and in q very unfrequented
part of the hive at some distance from any
burrow, where expected that he must re-
main; but the next morning l found a
fresh and narrow path leading straight to
where he had been, and the ant gone-
When the first one of these had been lib
after the compression it had been sub
jected to, and crawled away in a feeble
manner; but it was presently met by a
companion and then remained motionless,
whilst the other began at the head, strok-
ing it all over, round and round, and elab-
orately pursuing the same course with the
thorax and abdomen, feeling down each
leg. 1t looked exactly like surgeon ex-
amining patient to see the extent of the
injuries, and no doubt its intention in do
ing it must have been something of the
same nature. Soon afterwards another ant
came.up.and went through precisely SIM
liar process. Finally the injured ant slow
ly disappeared out of sight into the formi-
cary, surrounded by several of its COM
panions.
How these ants knew that any of their
comrades were incarcerated at all, and how
that even then they knew precisely in what
direction they should burrow, is one of
those mysteries which battles all coujec-
ture. 1t shows, however, that they must
possess some sense developed to pitch of
great intensity, and though the theory that
insects possess a subtle sense unknown to
us seems scarcely wauantable, yet it is
hard to see which of our five senses, how
ever much developed, would in this case
have helped to the discovery of the plight
of their companions. If it is the sense of
hearing which they have SO acutely, it
must be modified to their special require
ments, for they appeared quite oblivious to
any sounds, however loud, which have
made for experiments close to the nest.
At one time my ants collected all the
rubbish which they generally threw into
the water, as we'll as a considerable guam
tity of earth, and piled it together just at
the very edgeof the platform overhanging
the water They kept steadily adding to
it, until it hung halfway across the moat,
being kept together by the moisture sucked
up from the water below. 1t really seemed
as If they planned bridging over the moat
itself but if such was the case, their de-
sign was frustated by the bridge giving
way before IL reached the other side. l
once cleared it all away, but they forthwith
set to work to construct it again as befoie.
Cunning Weasel. Di'