HO W THE r FO UND C OL ON IBS. 9 



The males seem to be worthless fellows, and 

 soon disappear. They have no sting to protect 

 themselves with, aud no jaws to help them get 

 a living. 



Some of the females are caught by the work- 

 ers, and taken back to the, nest. Others wan- 

 der away with a few followers and found new 

 colonies, while others stray away by themselves, 

 going out into the wide world alone. When 

 one alights, she examines the new land which 

 she has discovered, to see if it is fit for a home. 

 If she is satisfied, she turns back her head, bites 

 off her wings at the shoulders, and settles down 

 for life. Her wings carried her from her moth- 

 er's house to her new home, and henceforth her 

 journeying is ended. Then she begins to hol- 

 low out a chamber for herself. Even if she has 

 workers with her, she continues to toil until she 

 has laid eggs ; then she is recognized and hon- 

 ored as a queen. If alone, she has to continue 

 her toil until the young from her own egga 

 make a colony about her. The grubs, when 

 hatched, are fed by the nurse-ants, or by the 



