THE ANTS' SALUTE.

Mataura Ensign, 26 December 1913, Page 6

THE ANTS' SALUTE.

Ants have long been unfavorably known tor their excessive industry, but from a curious communication which appears in 'Knowledge' they seem to have surpassed all other insects by organising an elaborate system of signalling. Professor Bugnion, who lias recently investigated the habits of the white ant, reports that the "soldiers" of that species give warning or encouraging signals by knocking with their jaws upon dry leaves, thereby emitting a crackling sound. Placing some of these ants on a big plate and' covering it with paper, he found that the "soldiers'' among the ante responded to his taps with a rustling, crackling sound. Moreover, apart from this audible signalling, there appears to be some inaudible form of signal, for the professor asserts that the 'soldier" ants salute the worker ants. To do this "the insect stands firmly oh its legs with the head raised and the body slightly oblique, and shakes itself for an instant with a convulsive shudder. This seems to mean something."