The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-09-29
CONSIDERING THE WAYS OF THE
ANT.


have always taken great delight in
watching the habits 81 insects. The
common ant, such as we see in the
fields, is a favoriie 81 mine; for he
knows more and really has more intel
ligence than any other insect / am ac-
quainted with.
The instinct of the bee is, indeed,
wonderful, and when we notice with
what regularity it builds six-sided cells,
we are filed with q curious interest;
but when we perceive that the bee can
only make a six-sided-cell, and that
under circumstances new and unusual,
it cannot change the form or manner of
its work, we are apt to rate the bee not
very high as constructive architect.
1t is annoying to perceive how dull
the bee is. He works on by himself.
He seems to care nothing for the wants
and suferings Of those about him, and
outside of his own line of work he will
not aid even those belonging to bis own
colony.
1t seems to be far otherwise with the
ant. and that is the reason why take
delight in considering its ways. Ihave
satisfactory evidence that ants possess
language whereby they can commune
cate information about places and
things.
The way satisfied myself about this
matter was by q series of experiments
conducted several years ago. l found
an old spout which had been used to
conduct water, and which was COM
posed of three boards four inches wide
and nearly four feet long, and nailed
together in the usual way stopped
the ends with pieces of board, and then
put in fourteen thin partitions, SO that
there were fifteen spaces, or divisions,
the top. of each of course being open.
On one side l bored row OF fifteen
holes, so that there was hole into each
compartment Just above the board that
formed the floor. l then numbered
each hole from one to fifteen, and then
sunk the continuance into the ground,
slightly, SO that the earth was on a
level with the holes.
dignified this structure by giving it
the name of the ANTS Hotel" Here
was house of fifteen rooms built for
the ants, but though they frequently
passed near it, they took no notice of it,
even when l placed some food in one
of the apartments. Twas near the spot
an entire afternoon, but l did not see q
single ant enter the hotel.
Before night i removed the food.
which consisted of some sugar placed
on piece of tin and moistened with
syrup; and the next day, in the fore
noon, again placed the food in one of
the rooms, but no ant found it so far as
l know.
In the afternoon l returned to the
spot, and having several spare hours,
caught wandering ant on a stick, and
put him near the food, which had been
placed in room No. 8, and was pleased
to see him eat readily. After feeding
eight or ten minutes, he went away,
and followed him to his nest. While
the ant was feeding marked him, so
that could recognize him thereafter.
Having retraced my steps and taken a
seat near the hotel, noticed the same
little ant returning, now no longer
brown, for l had sprinkled some -four
on his back. The ant had been absent
nearly twenty minutes, and after going
into two or three wrong doors, he
found the way to the right room and
resumed feeding. After feeding six or
eight minutes, the ant went away, but
soon returned with another ant that
had been told about the sugar, no
doubt; and they both went directly into
room eight and commenced feeding.
The first ant must have told the
second one to follow him, or more
likely, he conveyed the intelligence to
his mate that there was place not far
of where food could be had without
trouble. / called the first ant A, and
the second one B, and marked him also.
After time A and B went away. In
about five minutes saw two ants ap-
preaching the hotel, coming from the
direction of the nest. / had never seen
these ants before, and they went di-
rectly into room No. 8.
An ant when hunting wanders about
a great deal; but when his mind is bent
on any particular business, he makes
his course rs straight as possible.
was satisfied that these two ants had
been told where the food was located,
and even the particular room in which
it was. I marked these ants. and
named them C and d. After supplying
themselves with food, the two ants
went away to their nest.
Ants have powerful memory IS to
localities, though once in while we
may find an ant with weak memory
in this respect. Such was the case