22 PEOOEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF [1881. 



not been penetrated to a depth oi more than six inches before 

 a honoj^-chamber was uncovered, and the presence of the honey- 

 bearers indicated that a home of the true Hone}' Ant had been 

 found (PL III, fig. 5). Within a dome-roofed vault, about three 

 inches in width and three-quarters to one inch in height, hung the 

 hone^^-bearers, clinging by their feet to the roof. Their yellow 

 bodies stretched along the ceiling, but the rotund abdomens hung 

 down, almost perfect globules of transpalrent tissue, through which 

 the amber-colored honey showed. They looked like a cluster of 

 small Delaware grapes or large currants. Most of the abdomens 

 were quite round, but they were in various stages of fullness. 

 Upon some the external membrane of the abdomen was gathered 

 in folds. A few of the abdomens, and especially those but little 

 distended, were of a white instead of amber color. 



I have observed that the honey-bearers in my artificial nests 

 show the honey, which has been gathered from white sugar, quite 

 white and translucent. It is probable that the color becomes 

 amber, and even a wine color, with age. When the abdomen is 

 full it fairly shines, reflecting the light that falls upon it from the 

 lamp. With most of the honey-bearers the abdomens hang 

 downward without touching the ceiling, except at the rotundity 

 near the base, and often not even at that point. With some, 

 however, the whole lower part of the abdomen rests against the 

 roof (PI. IV, fig. 13). This appears to depend chiefly upon the 

 contour of the perch, and not upon the relative degree of comfort 

 to the ant in the two positions. 



The roof of the honey-chamber is different in structure from the 

 floor, the latter being comparatively smooth, while the former is 

 rough, being the natural granulated surface left after the picking 

 away of the sandy soil. This character, of course, enables the 

 honey-bearer to cling more easily and securely to her perch. This 

 position is not held by the mandibles clasping the rugose dome 

 with their sharp teeth, but almost exclusively^ by the feet, whose 

 claws, hairs and pulvuli all doubtless contribute to the effect. 



Judging from observations upon artificial nests and from the 

 utter unwieldiness and helplessness of the fully charged bearers, 

 they are not much disposed to change their roost after once taking 

 it, at least after they have reached a considerable degree of 

 rotundity. But the statements generally made by writers, that 

 they are wholly unable to move, and never change position, are 



