Here's the breakdown:
* Common noun: It refers to a general group of people, animals, or plants living in a new territory, usually under the control of a parent country.
* Example: "The colony of ants was busy gathering food."
* Collective noun: It represents a group of individuals as a single unit.
* Example: "The colony declared independence."
In the first example, "colony" refers to the group of ants itself. In the second example, "colony" refers to the group of people who inhabit the territory as a unified entity.