POLYERGUS FED BY THE SLAVES. 83 



they appeared to pay some Kttle attention to the 

 larvae ; they carried them here and there, but presently 

 replaced them. More than one-half of the Amazons 

 died of hunger in less than two days. They had not 

 even traced out a dwelling, and the few ants still in 

 existence were languid and without strength. I com- 

 miserated their condition, and gave them one of their 

 black companions. This individual, unassisted, estab- 

 lished order, formed a chamber in the earth, gathered 

 together the larvae, extricated several young ants that 

 were ready to quit the condition of pupae, and preserved 

 the life of the remaining Amazons.' 



This observation has been fully confirmed by other 

 naturalists. However small the prison, however large 

 the quantity of food, these stupid creatures will starve 

 in the midst of plenty rather than feed themselves. 



M. Forel was kind enough to send me a nest of 

 Polyergus, and I kept it under observation for more 

 than four years. My specimens of Polyergus certainly 

 never fed themselves, and when the community changed 

 its nest, which they did several times, the mistresses 

 were carried from the one to the other by the slaves. 

 I was even able to observe one of their marauding ex- 

 peditions, in which, however, the slaves took a part. 



I do not doubt that, as Huber tells us, specimens of 

 Polyergus if kept by themselves in a box would soon 

 die of starvation, even if supplied with food. I have, 

 however, kept isolated specimens for three months by 

 giving them a slave for an hour or two a day to clean 



