142 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1879. 



turned up, two of these were seized by a couple of prowling ants 

 of the species Tetramorium caespitum and Formica Sehauffussi, 

 and carried off as prey, a suggestion of the common fate of emmet 

 masculines. 



His attention had been called to an article in a Hollidaysburg 

 (Pennsylvania) journal, which reported a remarkable swarm of ants 

 that had crossed that town on the 13th September, 1876. He im- 

 mediately wrote to Rev. D. H. Barron, a citizen of the place, and 

 a gentleman of intelligence and prudence, giving certain points 

 which it was desirable to ascertain. The ants in the course of 

 their flight had come in contact with the mechanics at work upon 

 the tower of the new court-house, whom it was reported they 

 had assaulted vigorously. Mr. Barron visited these men, and 

 after a careful interview communicated the following facts : The 

 flight actually occurred substantially as reported; the day was 

 clear, warm, and calm; the ants came between 10 and 11 A.M., 

 from the direction of the Chimney Rocks, a ridge of the mountain 

 on the southeast of the town. As to numbers, the answers of the 

 men were as follows: "so thick you could hardly see through 

 them;" "swarms;" "about 30,000!" The ants struck the build- 

 ing at the height of about 120 or 125 feet, and certainly assaulted 

 the men. Whether the attack was a bite or a sting they could not 

 tell, but it was something very uncomfortable, and they would not 

 like to have it repeated. The ants were of two sizes, some larger 

 some smaller. One of the men had saved some specimens which 

 were sent to Mr. McCook and proved to be the males and females 

 of Myrmica lobricornis, Nylander. These ants can inflict a pain- 

 ful sting, but probably attacked the workmen simply in self- 

 defence; that is, the men happened to obstruct their flight, and 

 naturally vigorously brushed off the insects who lit upon them, 

 who in turn becoming irate applied their stings. Such a vast horde 

 as this swarm contained must have been composed of the winged 

 inmates of many formicaries on the mountain side. This is quite 

 in contrast with the solitary flight of Lasius Jiavus as described 

 in a former note. The pairing of the sexes was probablj- in the 

 air, or after alighting, as in the case of the agricultural ant. 1 Mr. 

 McCook had taken ants of the same sub-family Myrmicidse, while 

 they were in the act of pairing in the air. 



In connection with the above notes on the queen-life of ants, 

 he presented an observation reported to him by Mr. Jos. Wilcox. 

 This gentleman had seen a colony of some species of Gampono- 

 tus occupying a large dead Cyprus tree standing in the midst of 

 a Cyprus swamp in Florida, at least 600 feet from the shore. The 

 tree was wholly isolated from the land and from all surrounding 

 vegetation except another fallen Cyprus tree which leaned up 

 against it. Evidently a fertilized queen had at some time flown 

 from the land to this tree, where she had established the colony. 



1 Agricultural Ant of Texas, p. 143. 



