John Lubbock was a naturalist who was at
work during the late 19th century.
He undertook a special study of ants, and
during one of his experiments he intoxicated some of them with alcohol and
waited to see how their group behaviour was affected when the ants were at a
distance from their nest. He noticed that if the drunk ants were from the same
nest as the sober ones, the latter would help the former to get home safely.
However, if a "stranger" ant came across a drunk ant it would be
quite likely to push it into the nearest ditch!
Are humans any better in their behaviour?
© John Welford
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