Species of ants, among
which there is a greater appearance of the display of reasoning
powers than in most animals of a superior class.
On a fine sunny morning it is not uncommon, to see ants busily
engaged in bringing out all the eggs from the nest and laying
them in the sun until they become thoroughly warmed, after which
they carry them all back again and lay them in their respective
places. This looks very like a power of reasoning, as it is
decidedly beyond instinct. If they were to carry out the eggs
every morning, wet or dry, it would be an effort of instinct to
the detriment of the eggs; but as the weather is uncertain, it
is an effort of reason on the part of the ants to bring out the
eggs to the sun, especially as it is not an every-day occurrence,
even in fine weather.
In Mauritius, the negroes have a custom of turning the reasoning
powers of the large black ant to advantage.
White ants are frequently seen passing in and out of a small hole
from underneath a building, in which case their ravages could
only be prevented by taking up the flooring and destroying the
nest.
The negroes avoid this by their knowledge of the habits of the
black ant, who is a sworn enemy to the white.
