1881.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 29 



The ants are returning in numbers and rapidly moving from tlie 

 brush to the nest. It is about da3'light." 



In these night observations the light of the lantern seemed to 

 cause the ants in column no little disturbance. They would go 

 toward the lantern as it sat on the ground near the trail, appear 

 to examine it, then move away. It really seemed to confuse their 

 ideas of locality, and shake their confidence as to the site of the 

 trail, although no one was finally thrown off the track therebj'. 

 The sentries at home were alwaj's more or less excited by the 

 light, and delicate manipulation was everywhere required in order 

 to preserve the natural conditions and get the natural behavior. 



At no time were the ants seen during the day except when it 

 rained, and then onl}' a few sentinels appeared at the gate. Ordi- 

 narily the entrance, as far as the eye could see, was entireh' 

 abandoned. It is doubtful if Melliger can endure a great amount 

 of sunlight and heat. While excavating a nest, a number of 

 specimens were collected in a large empty glass bottle, which was 

 set aside fv)r further use. Not more than three minutes afterward 

 when I took up the vessel to insert more specimens, those already 

 collected were dead. The sun had killed them. I was surprised 

 at this ((uick fatal issue, and tried to revive the insects ; but no, 

 they Avere quite dead. The sun was of the usual August tempera- 

 ture, but the bottle was large, and such a result in so brief a time 

 argues extreme sensitiveness to the heat. I have observed that 

 the agricultural ants^ always avoided the noonda}' heats of Texas, 

 which are certainl}- intense ; and indeed all ants appear to me to 

 shun, more or less, the midday fervor of the sun. But Melliger 

 doubtless is more susceptible to solar influences than most of her 

 felloAvs. It cannot therefore be wondered at that she seeks her 

 food under the shelter of night. 



Y. Quality op the Ant Honey. 



A number of the honey-bearers were unavoidabl}' injured and 

 their abdomens broken during the excavations of the nests, and I 

 observed from these the qualitj' of the hone3\ It is ver}- pleasant, 

 with a peculiar aromatic flavor, suggestive of bee-hone}', and quite 

 agreeable to me. Dr. Loew describes it as having " an agreeable 

 taste, slightly acid in summer from a trace of formic acid, but 

 perfectly neutral in autumn and winter.'' It contains, according 



1 Op. cit., p. 18. 



