1 32 HYMENOPTERA. 



from all other hymenopterous insects, by the formation 

 of the first or first and second joint of the abdomen, 

 the stalk by which the abdomen is attached to the 

 thorax ; in some families the first joint grows out into 

 a raised kind of scale ; in the MyrmeciJie the first and 

 second joints are similarly formed. The females of the 

 Social Ants retain their wings only for a time ; after 

 associating in the air and sunshine the males die, and 

 the females descending to the earth, prepare for under- 

 ground work, by stripping or biting off their wings ; 

 they then enter the chambers prepared by the neuters 

 and lay their eggs. The tenderness and anxiety mani- 

 fested by the ants towards the young are wonderful, and 

 must have been witnessed by any one who has ever con- 

 sciously or unconsciously disturbed an Ants' nest. How 

 full of commotion is tlie busy scene, as the little 

 creatures hurry off with the large white pupaj, larger 

 than themselves ! But besides the neuters and females, 

 other occupants are found within Ants' nests, amongst 

 them the Aphides, which are kept prisoners by the 

 Ants, who are fond of the sweet fluid secreted by these 

 Plant-lice. Beetles are also found in Ants' nests ; only 

 yesterday I found three large ground Beetles quietly 

 ensconced in an Ant's nest, but whether they were there 

 as voluntary guests or detained prisoners I cannot say. 

 After the eggs are laid by the females they are watched 

 with great care by the neuters, who, according to the 

 observations of the Swiss Naturalist Huber, daily 

 remove them to different parts of the nest where the 

 temperature is most suitable ; after the eggs are hatched 

 the larvse receive the most constant attention from the 

 neuters, who feed them with honey-dew and other sweet 



