1881.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 31 



tube upon a piece of glass. 0"49T of honey gave 0.306 of water, 

 and 0.684 of carbonic acid, corresponding to a percentage of 

 C = 87-535, H = 6.841, O by loss =55-634. This corresponds, 

 as nearly as could be expected under the circumstances of the 

 analysis, with the formula of crystallized grape sugar, C^ Hj^ Ou- 



Dr. Wetherill, who in this analysis was especially seeking light 

 upon the origin of the ant-honey, thus announces his conclusion : 

 " It results, I think, from these experiments, that the honej' con- 

 tained in the Mexican ant is a nearly pure solution of the sugar, 

 so called, of fruits, which is in a state of hydration, isomeric with 

 grape-sugar, C12 Hu Ou, and differing from grape-sugar in not 

 crystallizing." It is certainly an interesting confirmation of the 

 value of this reasoning from analj^sis, that the ants have been 

 proved by field observations to have collected their honey-dew as 

 Dr. Wetherill concluded, from the nectar of plants. Thus the 

 methods of cabinet and laboratorj^, and the objective studies of 

 the field, confirm and complete each other. 



With regard to the acidity of the ant-honey, which has been 

 referred to, Dr. Wetherill found that it reacted slightly acid to 

 blue litmus paper, but want of material prevented satisfactory 

 experiments. He was in doubt as to whether it was formic acid, 

 or acetic from the oxidation of the alcohol in which the ants 

 were preserved. A portion of the alcohol (reacting acid like the 

 honey) neutralized hj caustic potassa, when distilled with sulphuric 

 acid, gave an aqueous acid liquid, which, on addition of nitrate of 

 silver, gave a whitish precipitate, becoming black on boiling, ren- 

 dering the supposition of formic acid probable. 



The uses to which the Mexicans and Indians put this ant-honej' 

 are various. That they eat it freely, and regard it as a delicate 

 morsel is beyond doubt. Prof. Cope, when in New Mexico, had 

 the ants offered to him upon a dish as a dainty relish. The Mexi- 

 cans (Loew) press the insects, and use the gathered honey at 

 their meals. They also are said to prepare from it by fermenta- 

 tion an alcoholic liquor. Again, they are said (Eclwards) to apply 

 the honey to bruised and swollen limbs, ascribing to it great 

 healing properties. Dr. Loew's suggestion to bee-keepers to test 

 the commercial value of these ants as honey producers is wholly 

 impracticable. The difficulties of farming the colonies, gathering 

 the supplj', and the limited quantity of the product, would prevent 

 a profitable industiy. The greatest number of honey-bearers in a 



