OF ECONOMISING LABOUR. 241 



greater number of the larvae had been carried off ; so 

 I put a fresh lot in the cell. The ants were busily at 

 work. At 3 A.M. I visited them again. They were 

 still carrying off the larvae, and all going round. At 

 6 A.M. the larvae were all removed. I put a fresh lot, 

 and up to 9 a.m. they went on as before. 



The following day (October 17) I took two longer 

 sticks, each 6 feet 6 inches in length, and arranged 

 them in a similar manner, only horizontally instead of 

 vertically. I also placed fine earth under the glass 

 supporting the larvae. At 8 o'clock I placed an ant on 

 the larvae ; she took one, and I then coaxed her home 

 along the sticks. She deposited her larva and im- 

 mediately came out again, not, however, going along 

 the stick, but under the larvae, vainly reaching up and 

 endeavouring to reach the glass. At 8.30 I put her 

 on the larvae again, and as she evidently did not know 

 her way home, but kept stretching herself down and 

 trying to reach the earth under the glass cell, I again 

 coaxed her home along the sticks. At 9.3 she came 

 out again, and again went under the larvae and wandered 

 about there. At 10 I put her on the larvae and again 

 helped her home. At 10.15 she came out again, and 

 this time went to the stick, but still wanted some 

 guidance. At 10.45 she again reached the frame, but 

 immediately came out again, and I once more coaxed 

 her round. After wandering about some time with a 

 larva in her mouth, she dropped down at 11.14. After, 

 depositing her larva, she came out directly and went 



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