428 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [July, 



at once attacked the queeu and the major. The major acted solely 

 on the defensive. Curling her abdomen in, and sitting on the 

 small of her back, with her tough thorax presented to her small 

 enemy, she permitted much nabbing of her body and much pulling 

 of her limbs, making no retaliation. The queen, on her part, 

 caught her little adversary by its antenna and held it firmly and 

 quietly for some minutes, then released it and stood head to head 

 with it without nipping it. The whole conduct of the adults was 

 like that often seen in big dogs that are playing with obstreperous 

 puppies. It appeared as if the adults liked their adopted callow 

 aud were unwilling to harm its sisters. The three callows perfectly 

 affiliated from the start; but the newcomers often renewed their 

 attacks on the queen and the major, and after some hours were 

 killed by the adults. The adopted callow continued to live in 

 that cell. 



The kings of different colonies are indifierent or friendly to one 

 another, and they have no steady foes either in their own or other 

 households of their kind. They are the only active representatives 

 of their colony that are ever cordially received in any other colony, 

 and strong inducements are apparently offered for their permanent 

 •residence among the aliens. I have seen two workers, one on either 

 side of an alien king, holding to his wings and gently conducting 

 him through the grass to the entrance of their domicile; and I have 

 •repeatedly seen the workers capture, lift and carry alien kings 

 home with them. If, about swarming time, an alien king is 

 dropped into one of my glass nests, the workers seize him by his 

 wings and forcibly detain him among them. If he later wanders 

 away, they follow, lift and bring him back. The kings are much 

 petted by the workers; their bodies are licked clean, their wings 

 are straightened and smoothed, and their heads are patted with the 

 antennae. If the colony is forced to change its place of residence 

 the kings are picked up by the small of the back and carried to 

 the new abode. Young winged queens manifest great friendliness 

 toward alien king.s. Probably cross-fertilization is common if not 

 universal. 



Stenamma fulvum piceum of the same colony, queens, kings and 

 workers, generally live amicably together. The queen is followed, 

 tended, licked and patted, and is the evident centre of attraction 

 in the crroun. 



