40 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP " [1881. 



of a cutting made in the excavation of the nest. The mandibles 

 of the two insects were interlocked, and the worker backed up the 

 steep, successfully drawing her protege. 



This interest is maintained in the daily life of the formicar3^ 

 The workers were continually seen hovering about the rotunds as 

 they hung from the roof of my nests, or as they lay upon the floor 

 cleansing their bodies. It is evident that these creatures are 

 regarded as dependents, and, as with the queen, virgin females, 

 males and larvte, are fed and tended by the active members of the 

 community. In all these cases the same communal instinct 

 "would of course control action, giving at least the semblance of 

 beneficence. 



Lack of Individual Beneficence, — But a great number of ex- 

 amples fell under notice which go to throw doubt upon the pos- 

 session of any personal or individual sentiment as towards special 

 cases of need, outside of the above limit. Some of these may 

 deserve permanent record. 



1. In making up my artificial nests, I placed in the natural soil, 

 which was closely packed down, and then introduced the ants, 

 knowing that they would work out their own habitations. The 

 hone3'-bearers were thus mingled upon the surface with the 

 workers, upon whom fell the entire task of digging galleries. In 

 this work, and in the distribution of the excavated pellets, there 

 was much room for the exhibition of individual carefulness and 

 tenderness toward the honey-bearers. Not a single such instance 

 was noted, although I watched closely and with some anxiety to 

 discover such excellencies in my little friends. On the contrary, 

 the exhibitions of an apparent cruel neglect and positive cruelty 

 were many. The grains of sand and soil were heaped around the 

 rotunds (PI. YI, fig. 31) until the poor creatures were literally 

 buried alive. It would have been easy for the busy masons to 

 draw their fellows aside and thus carry on their work. But it 

 either never occurred to them to do so, or the disposition was 

 wanting. 



2. Again, as the openings were made into the earth, most of the 

 rotunds, not prevented as above, managed to roll down the 

 galleries and secure a place in the honey-rooms. They were not 

 observed to be aided in this by the workers, and I believe that 

 they attained their perches unaided. Some of them, on the route, 

 became fastened in the gang-way in most uncomfortable positions. 



