The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-11-26
ant MOnarehies and Ant Republics.

Sir John Lubbock continues in the
Journal Of tie LiIRedl Society for Sep
temJer his Interesting observations on
ants. Many experiments are recorded
which had for their object the throwing
of some light on the power of communi-
cation possessed by ants. It is unques-
tionable that II an ant discovers a store
of food. her comrades soon flock to the
treasures, although this is not invariably
the case. II has been urged that this
Tact taken alone does not prove any pow
er of communication. An ant observing
friend bringing food home might infer,
without being told, that by accompany
ing the friend on the return journey she
might also participate in the good things.
This argument has been met by Sir J.
Lubbock's compelling the ant who found
the treasure TO return TO the nest empty
handed. If she took nothing home, and
yet others returned with her. he argues
there must have been some cOmmmica-
tlOn between them. As the result Of
these carefully-cOnducred and striking
experiments, he concludes that ants are
ID possession of something approaching
10 Ianguage-that they are able to ask
their trends, when occasion requires, to
come and lend them Il helping hand.
Ills obs CrVaJOnS on their TecOg of
relations are very surprising. Young
ants reared from eggs taken from a nest
were, when they reached maturity, in
tTOduced to the maternal abode, and al
though the Old ants could never have
seen them until that moment, vet in all
the cases item they were undoubtedly
recognized as belonging TO the commun-
lty stranger ant is invariably at once
attacked and killed. 1t would seem that
he rppppuif ion fC Y7pf rarsDral md -,
diyldual, and the fact that they Iecog-
nlZe their friends even when intoxicated
and that they know the young born in
their own nest even when these have
been brought out of the chrysalis bv
strangers, seems to indicate that the re-
cOgnItlOn is not effected by means Of
any sign or pass word. The very impor-
tant physiological fact seems proved Bv
some OF these observations, that when
worker ants lay eggs these always pro-
duce males. As to the longevity Of
ants, some Of Sir John Lubbock's ants
have obtained the considerable age OF at
least SIX years. When q queen was in
trOjuced into q QUeeuless nest she WAS
at once attacked and destroyed; iC would
seem as II ants which had been long !iy-
ing in a republic could not be induced
to accept OF queen, Some peculiarly
interesting observations are made rs TO
the treatment of aphides. The aphis in +.
this case observed was the one to be I.
found on the daisy. Their eggs are laid .
early in October in the axis of green /.
leaves Of the plant. They are Of no di- I.
rect use to the ants, yet they are not .
left where they would be exposed to the .
severity OF the weather and to iunuupr- I
able dangers. bat they are collected bv
the ants and brought into their ness. .
Here they are attended with the greatest .
care through the long winter months un- ,
81 the following March, when the ants
bring out the young aphides and place
them TO browse on the then Young shoots
Of the daisy. This is certainly a most
rem arkable case Of prudence and fore
thought. Though, apparently. the
ants do not lay up food for the winter.
they DO yet more, for they keep score
Of eggs, which Will enable them to pro-
cure food during the following summer.
1t will be remembered that Eurouean
ants most generally live on food not cas-
ily kept fresh, such as insects. They
have not learnt the art Of building cells
Tor honey, nor still less of storing this
Jp in living h0ney-pots, as the honey
ant OF Mexico. But, Witnal. they have
shown themselves in their habits very
wise. It may not be without interest 10
he reader, possibly now residing in
some country place where ANS are sure
% abound. to know that these observa-
ions, 50 full OF novelty and interest,
we're chiefly carried cas- in the months
IF September and October