2O 



WHEELER. 



[VOL. II. 



Biro's observations may be true of P. stigma without being 

 applicable to the three forms of Ponerinae which I have 

 observed. In artificial nests I have seen the neck movements 

 of the larvae, but they were often executed when the larva was 

 undisturbed, except perhaps by the pangs of hunger, and they 

 were not always made when termites or other insects were 

 running about and over them. Moreover, we should expect 

 to find the tubercles more highly developed on the neck than 



FIG. 9. Pogonomyrmex btrrbatits Smith, a, nearly adult larva ; /, young larva ; 

 c, serrated bristle of the same. 



on the body, if they are really used as Biro suggests. I believe 

 that while they may be organs of passive defense, like the 

 somewhat similar tubercles and spines of certain caterpillars, 

 they also fulfill other functions ; they would seem to facilitate 

 the carrying of the larvae either singly --when full-grown or 

 in batches --when young --by the worker ants. In the last 

 instance they would represent a peculiar form of the " poils 

 d'accrochage" carefully studied by Janet. 1 Janet finds that 

 the young larvae of the more specialized ants are covered with 



1 Les Fourmis. Conference faite le 28 Fevrier, 1896. Paris, 1896. 



