_Anecdotes._--In tracing the designs of the cells and galleries, each
ant appears to follow its own fancy. A want of accordance must
therefore frequently take place at the point where their works join;
but they never appear to be embarrassed by any difficulties of this
kind. An instance is related, in which two opposite walls were made, of
such different elevations, that the ceiling of the one, if continued,
would not have reached above half way of the height of the other. An
experienced ant, arriving at the spot, seemed struck with the defect,
immediately destroyed the lower ceiling, built up the wall to the
proper height, and formed a new ceiling with the materials of the former.
In the "Transactions of the French Academy," an account is given of an
ant, that was taken from a hill, and thrown upon a heap of corn. It
seemed attentively to survey this treasure, and then hastened back to
its former abode, where it communicated intelligence of the land of
plenty; for an immense host of its brethren quickly made their
appearance, and commenced carrying off the grain.
M. Homberg informs us that, in Surinam, there is a species of ant
called by the natives the _visiting ant_. These animals march in large
troops, with the same order and precision as do a regularly-constituted
army. They are welcome visitors to the natives, on account of their
power of exterminating rats, mice, and other noxious animals, with
which that country abounds. No sooner do they appear, than all the
coffers, chests of drawers, and locked-up places in the house, are
thrown open for them, when they immediately commence their work of
destruction of animal life, as if commissioned by nature for that
purpose. The only regret of the natives is, that they pay their visits
but once in three or four years.
Two ants meeting on a path across a gravel-walk, one going to and the
other from the nest, stop, touch each other's antennae, and appear to
hold a conversation. One would almost fancy that one was communicating
to the other the best place for foraging.