RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1873-1874]. Abstract of Moggridge, Harvesting ants, etc. CUL-DAR87.187. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2022. RN2

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR87-90 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man 2d ed. (1874-1877).


[187]

Moggridge on Ant. Man's Mental Power add when I specify intellect of ants — Bringing up seed to dry out damp

Belt — make Bridges over water by clinged tight — Apparent [words illeg]

Moggridge, John Traherne. 1873. Harvesting ants and trap spiders. Supplement with specific descriptions of the Spiders, by the Rev. O. Pickard. London: L. Reeve & Co. CUL-DAR.LIB.441 PDF Darwin cited this in Descent 2d ed., p. 147, n. 2: "Some of the most interesting facts ever published on the habits of ants are given by Mr. Belt, in in his 'Naturalist in Nicaragua,' 1874. See also Mr. Moggridge's admirable work, 'Harvesting Ants,' &c., 1873, also 'L'Instinct chez les Insectes,' by M. George Pouchet, 'Revue des Deux Mondes,' Feb. 1870, p. 682."

Belt, Thomas. 1874. The naturalist in Nicaragua: A narrative of a residence at the gold mines of Chontales; journeys in the savannahs and forests. With observations on animals and plants in reference to the theory of evolution of living forms. London: John Murray. [signed] CUL-DAR.LIB.35 PDF
"They widened this natural bridge to three times its width by a number of ants clinging to it and to each other on each side, over which the column passed three or four deep; whereas excepting for this expedient they would have had to pass over in single file, and treble the time would have been consumed. Can it be contended that such insects are not able to determine by reasoning powers which is the best way of doing a thing, or that their actions are not guided by thought and reflection? This view is much strengthened by the fact that the cerebral ganglia in ants are more developed than in any other insect, and that in all the Hymenoptera, at the head of which they stand, they are many times larger than in the less intelligent orders, such as beetles." pp. 22-23.


Return to homepage

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 21 August, 2025