386 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1887. 



except the fear which they show when the famous wasp popularly 

 called "the tarantula killer," Pompilus formosus, happens to be in 

 the neighborhood. The excited haste with which the huge spider 

 hurries off into hiding, when one of these formidable hymenopters 

 is near is a very striking sight.^ 



1 The following note was received from the author of the above paper just as 

 the printed pages were going to press, and work thereon has been stopped in order 

 to admit the explanation. The Editor. 



Dr. Edward J. Nolan, 

 Dear Sir: 



I have this morning received a note from Sir John Lubbock dated 

 January 6th, in which he says "My old ant queen is still alive, but 

 I fear a little stiff." 



I am not able to explain the discrepancy between this statement 

 and the account given of the apparent death of the same insect in 

 my paper (page 370). It is evident, however, that both Sir John 

 and myself were deceived by what must have been a transient sus- 

 pension of activity. I saw the ant, and carefully observed it for five 

 minutes or more, and am confident that it had the undoubted 

 appearance of death. Sir John must have been laboring under the 

 same mistake for at least a day. 



I have no explanation of the phenomenon which thus deceived 

 one of the most careful observers of emmet habits in England, to say 

 nothing of myself. I await anxiously the explanation, for which I 

 have written, of this apparent "resurrection," but in the meantime 

 am desirous that some statement shall be got into or attached to my 

 paper, to modify in accordance with present facts what I therein 

 say. 



If the work has not too far progressed to allow this, will you 

 please see that this note or the substance thereof, is inserted at the 

 end of the paper. 



Very truly yours, 



Henry C. McCook. 



