There are reasons for the belief that green tree-ants understand and
respect the laws of neutrality. There are several communities in the
mango-trees, and since some of the trees overhang the fence, the top wire
is used as a highway. When a gate is opened traffic is suspended. In
a minute or two of a busy day there will be considerable gatherings on
the latch-style, and if the intervening space is narrowed by the swing of
the gate the impatient insects begin to make a living bridge across the
perilous gap. At one particular gate, which is opened and shut many times
a day, it has been noticed that the ants never seem to resent
interruptions or to be vexed by them. If they happen to get on the hands
or fingers, they submit to be restored to the gate; but go to the
formicary on the mango-tree half a dozen yards away and offer a friendly
finger, and you will find dozens of pugnacious individuals ready to
defend their home. Do they recognise that they are but pilgrims of the
fence, enjoying certain rights on sufferance, that it is a path of peace
on which belligerents must not intrude, a neutral tract under the custody
of the law of nations, which ants, as well as men, must respect?
Whatsoever the reason, the deportment of the truculent ant on the highway
is that of an upholder of peace at any price. It is to be doubted if the
animal world holds more illustrious examples of heroism than a green
tree-ants' nest. Two or three individuals may be despised as long as
their assaults are confined to the less sensitive parts of the body; but
let a huge colony up among the branches of an orange-tree be disturbed,
and the first army corps instantly mobilised, and it will not be cowardly
hastily to retreat. So eager for the fray are the warriors, so well
organised, so completely devoted to the self-sacrificing duty of
protecting the community, that two distinct methods of advance and attack
are exercised forthwith in the midst of what appears to be calamitous
confusion. Swarming on the extremity of the branches among which the