CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I 



INTR OB U Oil ON. 



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Position of ants in the Animal Kingdom — Ants dividcil into 

 three families — Number of species — Mode of observation — 

 Nests — Blode of marking ants — Stages in life of ants — Egg, 

 larva, pupa, imago — Length of life — Structure of ants — 

 Head, thorax, abdomen, antennje, eyes, ocelli, mouth parts, 

 legs, wings, sting — Origin of the sting — Character of ants — 

 Wars among ants — Modes of lighting — Queen ants— Workers 

 — Different classes of workers — The honey ant— Soldiers — 

 Origin of the soldiers — Division of labour — Habitations of 

 ants — Communities of ants— Food — Enemies — Character — 

 Industry — Games — Cleanliness . . • .1 



CHAPTER II. 



FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NESTS. 



Foundation of new nests — Doubts on the su'^ject — Views of 

 Huber, Blanchard, Forel, St. Fargeau, Ebrard — Experiments 

 with queens- Foundation of a nest of Myrmica by two 

 queens — Adoption of queens — Fertility of workers — Eggs 

 laid by fertile workers always produce males — Queens seldom 

 produced in captivity — Origin of ditference between queens 

 and workers — Longevity of ants^ Arrangement of chambers 

 in a nest — Division of labour — The honey ant . 30 



