1881.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 4^ 



the death-grip finally relaxed and they fell. It happened more 

 than once that the workers failed to perceive the change, and for 

 some time, a day or more, after death, continued to cleanse and 

 tend them with the accustomed solicitude. When the fact was at 

 last perceived, and the dead removed, the round abdomen was 

 first severed from the thorax by clipping the petiole, then the 

 parts were separately removed to the " cemetery," that common 

 dumping-ground for the dead, which these ants, like all others 

 whom I have observed, invariably maintained. In view of the 

 fact last recorded, it seemed curious that the stored treasures of 

 these " honey-pots " were not secured by cutting the sealing tissue. 

 In point of fact, this was never seen to be done, and the amber 

 globes were pulled up galleries, rolled along rooms, and bowled 

 into the graveyard along with the juiceless legs, heads and other 

 members. I verily believe that they were never once deliberately 

 opened, in spite of their tempting contents. If this act were the 

 result of an instinctive sentiment by which Nature guarantees 

 protection to the living honey-bearer (and this, indeed, is likely), 

 it must soem to us very beautiful and praiseworthy-. But what if 

 it were only the consequence of a mentalism so low and fixed 

 within its instinctive ruts as to hinder even a suggestion of 

 utilizing the wasting store by opening the abdomen ? 



4. Effects of Withholding Food — In order to determine 

 be3'-ond doubt the relations of the honey -bearers to the other ants, 

 I made a number of experiments, which, I regret to say, led to no 

 decided conclusion. ^ One or two of them, however, gave results 

 of some value. A number of rotunds and workers were placed 

 in a nest,' and denied all food. A little water was allowed them, 

 but for more than four months their fast was not otherwise broken. 



^ Au unusual press of professional and domestic duties during the winter 

 of '79-80 absorbed even my eveniugs and those leisure hours which I feel 

 at liberty to devote to natural history. I was thus unable to give to my 

 little friends that attention which might have assured a complete success. 

 On one occasion, just as a long series of preparations promised satisfactory 

 results, a family bereavement intervened, and when it was possible to 

 resume observations, the hour of advantage had passed. Then followed 

 the untimely destruction of my captives, as will be related hereafter, and 

 the estopment of all study. Naturalists, at least, will know how to esti- 

 mate the various ordinary as well as extraordinary interruptions and hin- 

 drances with which the observer has to contend, and which often prevent 

 the most satisfactory results. 



