38 EGGS LAID BY FERTILE WORKERS 



Again, in a nest of Formica f us ca, taken in 1875, 

 though in 1876 and 1877 eggs were laid and a few 

 arrived at the pupa-state, none came to maturity. 

 They were all, however, either males or queens, and, I 

 have little doubt, were males. In 1878 one came to 

 maturity, and it was a male. 



A nest of F. fusca, captured in 1876, did not bring 

 up any young in 1877. In 1878 three larvae came to 

 maturity ; and they all proved to be males. Another 

 nest of F. fusca, captured in 1877, in 1878 brought 

 only one young one to maturity. This was a male. 



In the following year, I again carefully watched my 

 nests, to see what further light they would throw on 

 the subject. 



In six of those which contained no queen, eggs 

 were produced, which of course must necessarily have 

 been laid by workers. 



The first of these, the nest of Lasius niger, 

 which I have watched since July 1875, and which, 

 therefore, is interesting from the great age of the 

 workers, about ten larvae were hatched, but only four 

 reached the pupa state. Of these one disappeared ; 

 the other three I secured, and on examination they all 

 proved to be males. The nest ef Lasius niger, which 

 has been under observation since November 1875, pro- 

 duced about ten pupae. Of these I examined seven, all 

 of which I found to be males. The others escaped me. 

 I believe that, having died, they were brought out and 

 thrown away. 



