198 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP [1879- 



the honey chambers by their feet; their large globular abdomens 

 looking like bunches of small Delaware grapes. About eight to 

 ten chambers, containing each an average of about thirty honey- 

 bearers, were found. The workers cared for the honey-bearers 

 when the chambers were opened, and dragged them into the un- 

 opened parts. 



The ants proved to be nocturnal in their habits, remaining 

 within doors until after sunset, about 7.30 P. M., each evening, 

 when the workers issued forth in column, and dispersed among 

 the clumps of scrub oak, Quercus undulata. Here they sought 

 the galls made by a species of Cynips, which grows abundantly on 

 the bushes, and licked therefrom a sweet exudation which issued 

 in small transparent beads from the surface. From 11.30 P.M. 

 to about 3.30 A. M., when the first streakings of dawn began to 

 appear, the workers returned home laden with the honey. This 

 appears to be fed to the sedentary honey-bearers by disgorging it 

 in the usual way, and remains within the globular abdomens as a 

 store for future use. The economy of this habit appears to re- 

 semble that of the bee ; the exception being that the bee's honey 

 is stored within the inorganic substance of a waxen cell, while the 

 ant's is lodged within the organic tissue of the living insect. 



The above is a brief abstract of observations presented in detail, 

 together with others not here referred to, which will appear in full 

 in subsequent reports of the Academy's Proceedings. 



Notices of some Animals on the Coast of New Jersey. Prof. 

 Leidy exhibited a valve of the beach-clam, Mactra solidissima, 

 which he picked up among the numerous dead and bleaching shells 

 of Brigantine Beach, N. J. It attracted his attention from its 

 apparently having a fungus growing upon it. The fungus-like 

 excrescence presented a remarkable resemblance to a Polyporus 

 growing from the stem of a tree. It is an outgrowth from the lip 

 of the shell, evidently dependent on an abnormal condition of the 

 mantle of the living animal. 



Prof. Leidy also stated that he had picked up on the beach at 

 Atlantic City, N. J., another valve of the beach-clam, which had 

 been recently cast on shore. The inner surface of the shell was 

 covered with a multitude of the beautiful ciliated infusorian, Freia 

 ampulla. The little creatures were still alive, and their curved, 

 flask-like cases were of a deep green color. 



Prof. Leidy further remarked that while at Atlantic City, Mr. 

 Philips had directed his attention to two interesting animals, re- 

 cently collected. One of these he recognized as the Bicidium 

 parasiticum, a parasitic anemone or Actinia, found on the large 

 jelly fish, Cyanea arctica, so frequentl}* thrown on shore. The 

 other was a parasite of the shrimp, Palsemoneles vulgaris, which 

 he recognized as the curious Isopod, Bopyrus. Many of the 

 shrimps were infested with the parasite, the presence of which 



