56 HYMENOPTERA. 



ils ino^enious orisjinalitv: " Of the antennae, it is remarkable 

 that insects whose eyes are very prominent, or extend over 

 great part of their heads, have exceedingly short feelers. 

 As may be seen in many common flies, and other Papilio's, 

 especially in the dragon, or, more properly, large hawk-fly. 

 On the contrary, such as have very little eyes, and placed 

 on each side of the head at a distance from one another, have 

 remarkably long antennae. As may be observed in variety 

 of Scai-abs or beetles, in the hawk-grasshopper, Gryllotalpa, 

 house-crickets, and several flies. The feelers of many in- 

 sects seem to lengthen or shorten in a kind of proportion to 

 the largeness and distance of their eyes. Probably, there- 

 fore, the feelers rather supply the want of large eyes than the 

 immobility of them." 



Every Entomologist has no doubt read the true and cir- 

 cumstantial account of "The Funeral Ant" published in the 

 Proceedings of the Linnean Society ; let us see what Gould 

 has to say upon the same subject : " As soon as one of their 

 fraternity dies, it is carried out of the settlement, and thrown 

 upon the ground without ceremony or rites of a funeral. 

 Pliny informs us that the ants of his country are wont 

 to bury their dead, which is a curiosity not imiitated in 

 England." 



The loyalty of ants to their queen is not exceeded in our 

 day by the most accomplished courtier. " In whatever 

 apartment a queen ant condescends to be present, she com- 

 mands obedience and respect. An universal gladness spreads 

 itself through the whole cell. They have a peculiar way of 

 skipping, leaping and standing upon their hind legs. These 

 frolicks they make use of both to congratulate and to show 

 their regard for the queen." Gould was a man of observa- 

 tion, and having obtained a large black queen, together with 

 some workers, he placed them in a box, that he might more 



