50 ANTS. 



26, B). Somewhat later the amoebocytes discharge the fat globules 

 and albuminoid granules from their cytoplasm into the blood plasma, 

 which from being a limpid liquid assumes a more granular appearance 

 as it becomes charged with more and more of the metabolized products 

 of sarcolysis. Kventually nothing remains of the muscles but their 

 sheaths, and the thoracic tracheae become greatly enlarged, which 

 accounts for the floating of the insect in liquid and the emission of air 

 bubbles when the thorax is pricked under water (Fig. 26, D ). The fatty 

 and albuminoid substances derived from the histolyzed wing-muscles 

 are carried in the blood to the abdomen, where they are taken up by the 



FIG. 26. Wing muscles of Lnsins nigcr queen, to show their degeneration after 

 nuptial flight. (Janet.) A, Sagittal section of thorax and petiole of queen immedi- 

 ately after nuptial flight : B, ten months later ; C, transverse section through meso- 

 thorax on day of nuptial flight ; D, same five weeks later ; in, longitudinal vibratory 

 muscles : ;;, transverse vibratory muscles ; b, blood coagulated and charged with the 

 products of muscle dissolution ; t , tracheae. 



ovaries and, no doubt, contribute greatly to the growth of the eggs. 

 The queen ant thus resembles the salmon, in which, according to 

 Miescher, there is at the time of sexual maturity a conversion of part 

 of the trunk musculature into substances that are appropriated by the 

 reproductive cells and further their growth and maturation. 



