138 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



ants form themselves into chains to bridge the distance and bring 

 it down ; many of these chains are frequently required for a single 

 leaf. I have seen a large colony at work upon a new nest, and 

 several of these chains were 3 or 4 inches long ; altogether there 

 were many of them in evidence, some perpendicular, others 

 horizontal. Up or along these living bridges numbers of other ants 

 were passing. 



Now for the web material used to build the nests. It is furnished 

 in fine and delicate threads by tJie larvw ; moreover, I have only 

 seen what appear to be half-grown examples used for the work — I 

 have never seen a large larva being made use of. The soft and 

 tiny grubs are held by the larger ants, who slowly move about 

 amongst those pulling. Each grub is held by the middle, with 

 head pointing forward, its " snout " is gently made to touch the 

 edges of the leaves where they are to be joined, it is slowly moved 

 backwards and forwards, and is undoubtedly issuing a thread 

 during the operation, which adheres to the leaf edges, and 

 eventually grows into the web. When this web is completed it 

 must be composed of several layers to be strong enough for the 

 purpose of securing the leaves. Whether the larva is an unwilling 

 instrument or not in its captor's mandibles is a point which 

 cannot be ascertained. Maybe it is, for it cannot be comfortable 

 in such a position. However, it supplies the web; perhaps if it were 

 not robbed of the web for the benefit of the community it would 

 be enabled to spin a cocoon for itself, in which to undergo the 

 delicate change into the pupa state, for I have never seen a 

 cocoon, all pupse being quite naked. 



When contemplating the work done in these nests one cannot 

 but marvel at the wonderful ingenuity displayed, or in endeavour- 

 ing to form some idea of the vast number of larvae which must be 

 utilized to supply the connecting web even for a moderately sized 

 nest, for with trees with narrow leaves, like Eucalypttis tessdaris 

 for instance, many scores of leaves are required to form a nest, 

 and each must be sewn. 



Not only do these strangely used larvae provide the web 

 to build up the nests, but they are carried considerable dis- 

 tances to various branches, generally near the ends, and there 

 they are induced to furnish material for forming shelters and 

 retreats for various scale insects, " hoppers," and caterpillars, 

 with which the ants fraternize. Upon a tree may be seen several 

 of these enclosures, or a dozen, occasionally many more; as a rule 

 a few leaves joined together. Upon large-leaved trees like Careya 

 australis or Eucalyptus platyphylla, a single leaf doubled over and 

 fastened down will form a sufficient cover. Upon pulling any of 

 these apart a small flat scale in great numbers will be found 

 adhering to the leaf. Upon another species of tree, Acacia say, 

 perhaps " hoppers '"'only of a particular kind, with horned head, 

 and their larvae and pupse. Often in company with this insect a 



