68 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1881. 



hours and noticed the workers carry home leaves of different plants 

 to feed, as he supposed, "the others that produce the honey," 

 This would seem to conhrm the leaf-bearing habit quoted by Mr. 

 Edwards from Capt. Fleeson. The inference as to the use of 

 these leaves is, however, quite unwarranted, as the portage of 

 leaves, etc., into nests is not an uncommon habit among ants 

 of divers species. Without stopping to discuss the question 

 whether such material may contribute to the food suppl}' of the 

 formicary, it may be remarked that its most probable and ordinary 

 use is for purposes of architecture or nest-building, 



Mr. Kurameck also makes the remark, which I had not seen 

 at the time my own conclusions had been reached, that " in early 

 life none of these insects present any unusual distension of the 

 body, but when arrived at a certain period of maturity some 

 individuals begin to show a distended abdomen." 



The ant honey has no commercial value among the New Mexi- 

 cans. It has a place, however, as a remedy in the domestic thera- 

 peutics of the native Indians, who compound a drink by mixing 

 three to four drachms of the honey with six ounces of water. The 

 drink is used in cases of fever. The honey is also applied as an 

 unguent in eye diseases, especially cataract. 



To the above may properly be added two accounts of my own 

 studies published in the London Jow^-nal of Science} These are 

 reports made hy Mr. Morris, of the verbal communications in 

 which my observations were originally announced to the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. They were made and printed 

 without any oversight or responsibility on my part, but are 

 admirably, and in the main, accurately done. They have been 

 reproduced with various degrees of fulness in other journals. 



Such other notices of this ant as I have been able to find, and 

 have had occasion to use, will be found properly referred to in the 

 text of this paper, where those who are interested in the literature 

 can readil}^ find them. 



1 .Tour. Sci., February, 1880, '' Living Honey Comb ; a novel phase of 

 Ant Life." By Mr, C, Morris. Ibid. July, 1880, "Habits and Anatomy 

 of the Honey-bearing Ant." By Charles Morris. 



