PACKAUD.] THE SOCIAL LIFE OF INSECTS. 



333 



often observed them in this nest, but also in his artificial 

 one. 



Surel}' these ants exhibit nearly as much intellect as the 

 monkey's and other animals, though perhaps not so intelli- 

 gent as the domestic animals, which have been educated by 

 their intercourse with man. 



Tlie Q^cudohia Mexicana (Fig. 252, female) has two sorts 

 of workers, the common one with a small head, and the 



Fig. 252. 



Fig. 2.-)3. 



Female CEcodoinu. 



major workers, with enormous heads (Fig. 2.53). Sumi- 

 chrast says that the intelligence of these ants is wonderful. 

 They are seen in immense numbers transporting leaves to 

 place in their nests, and this is done by the same principle 

 of the division of labor so marked in the 

 white ants. A part of these workers cut 

 off the leaves, and others collect them 

 and, carrying them off to their nests, 

 march in long processions, each with a 

 leaf over its shoulder like an umbrella, 

 hence they are sometimes called "um- 

 brella ants." Sumichrast says that "if 

 the tree is not too lofty, one "can satisf;v ^'^'J'^^' ^vorkcr CEco.iomu. 

 himself that a party of foragers, which have climbed the 

 tree, occupy themselves wholly in the labor of cutting them 

 off, while at the foot of the tree are the carriers, which make 

 the journeys between the tree and the nest." 



13 



