1881.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. IT 



THE HONEY ANTS OF THE GARDEN OF THE GODS. 



By Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D. 



I. — Geographical Distribution, 



The peculiarity in the Honey Ants (Myrmecocystus melliger) 

 which has attracted the especial attention of naturalists is that 

 one of the castes or worker forms has the abdomen distended to the 

 size and form of a currant or small grape, and entirely filled with 

 grape-sugar or " honey." 



Yery little of their habits has heretofore been known, and onl^^ 

 the forms of the hone3-bearer and worker-major. In order, if 

 possible, to remove this reproach from Entomology, I started in 

 the early part of July, A, D. 18T9, for New Mexico, as the honey- 

 ants have been found in the neighborliood of Santa Fe, and even 

 as far north as Abiquiu, on the Big Chama River.^ 



During a brief visit at the cottage of Gen. Charles Adams, ^ of 

 Manitou, Colorado, which is located in the mouth of the Garden 

 of the gods, in the course of some observations made upon the 

 ants of the vicinit}'^, a nest was discovered whose external archi- 

 tecture was new to me. The sentinels were called out hy the 

 application of a straw, and their general appearance raised the 

 suspicion that they might be Honey Ants, which, as I had never 

 seen specimens, were known to me only b}^ description. The nest 

 was opened, and the delightful fact revealed that the objects of 

 my search were before me. I thereupon made an exploration of 

 the vicinity, and found that the nests were present in sufficient 

 numbers for purposes of study ; whereupon I abandoned m}' New 

 Mexico outfit, encamped in the Garden of the gods, and began 

 the observations of which the following paper is the record. 



Up to the time of my discovery, it had not been known that 

 the Honey Ants were distributed as far north as Colorado. I 

 found no formicaries at any other point in the State, although the 

 opportunity to search for them was limited. There is little doubt, 



^ At the latter point Prof. Edward D. Cope informed me that he had 

 seen them. Dr. Loew and ^Ir. Krummeck saw them near Santa Fe. 



^ Gen. Adams has recently been widely known by his intrepid venture 

 among the hostile White River Ute Indians, and rescue of their unhappy 

 prisoners, Mrs. Meeker and others, at the risk of his own life. As a recog- 

 nition of this service he has been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary for 

 the United States to the Republic of Bolivia, 



