The Lambertville record., 1874-06-24
MISCELLANY
soME cURIosrrIEs or IysrINcr

6O<UL tCAAOS4 4<A1-S oc \ ~ - A<st@'
A writer in Hardwicke's Science GossiI
makes some very curious and interesting
statements will regard to the doings of colo
ny of ants which had been kept confined fol
some years in a formicary. At one time, ne
says, the glass sides of my formicary got SO OBJ
scured with moss and rubbish, that the view
into the interior was nearly shut out, SO re-
moved 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 per-
pendicular mound of earth in some excite
ment, unavoidably two or three OF them got
pressed into the earth, in places where there
were no burrows, and were fixed between the
glass and mould, quite unable to move at all.
Not long afterwards was astonished to see
several ants with much eagerness running
burrow straight towards the very point where
one of these ants are incarcerated. They
worked very hard, and after time they exca-
vated until they reached the imprisoned ant,
upon which they pulled away and loosened
the soil around it until they had made suff-
cient room for it to wriggle out. Having
watched the 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 dig
ping out two more of their comrades They
accomplished 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.
fourth ant was lightly pressed against the
glass close to the very bottom of the case, aud
in very unfrequented part of the hive, at
some distance from any burrow, where | ex-
pected that he must remain; but the next
morning found 4 fresh and narrow path
leading straight to where he had been, and
the ant gone. When the first one of these
had been liberated, it naturally seemed weak
and stiff after the compression it had been
subjected to, and crawled away in a feeble
manner (; but it was presently met by a COM
panion and then remained motionless, whilst
the other began at the head, stroking it al
over round and round, and elaborately pur-
suing the same course with the thorax and
abdomen, feeling down each leg. 1t looked
exactly like a surgeon examining patient to
see the extent of the injuries, and no doubt
its intention in doing it must have been some
thing Of the same nature. Soon afterwards
another ant came up and went through pre-
cisely similar process. Finally the injured
ant slowly disappeared out of sight into the
formicary, 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 bnrrow, is one of those
mysteries which battles all conjecture. 1t
shows, however, that they must possess some
sense developed to pitch of great intensity,
and though the theory that insects possess
subtle sense unknown to us seems scarcely
warrantable, yet it is hard to see which of our
i've senses however much developed, would
in this case have helped to the discovery Of
the plight of their companions. lit is the
sense of hearing which they have so acutcly,
it must be modified to their special require
ments, for they appeared quite oblivious to
any sounds, however loud, which have made
for experiment close to the nest.
At one time my ants collected all the rub
bish which they generally threw into the
water, as we'll as considerable quantity OF
earth, and piled it together just at tho very
edge of the platform overhanging the water
They kept steadily adding to it, until it hung
halfway across the moat, being kept togethe'
by the moisture sucked up from the water be
low. 1t really seems as if they planned
bridging over the moat itself; but if sud-
was the case, their design was frustrated b,
the bridge giving way before it reached tb
other side. once cleared it all away, bu
they forthwith set to work to construct
again as before.
The Emperor of all the Russias is no bette