OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF ANTS. 85 



uncommon in Britain, but it has never been bred. This variable 

 species is figured by Panzer, Latreille, Curtis, and VoUenhoven. 



Since the table of Ichneumones pneustici (Entom. xv. 11) was 

 printed, another of Wesmael's genera has been detected as 

 occurring in this country, viz., Gnathoxys. The proper place for 

 this genus in the above table is between f and +, where ought to 

 be inserted : — 



1. Mandibles unidentate. Gnathoxys, Wesm. 

 ^. Mandibles bideutate. 



Gnathoxys, Wesm. 



Black ; sides of scutellum (or entirely in a var. of male), line at base 

 of wings, orbits, white; apical margin of abdominal segments 

 reddish ; legs red. Male, coxae and trochanters black. (Male and 

 female.) ..... marginellus, 2\ — 3 lines. 



A splendid female was captured by Mr. G. C. Bignell on Sep- 

 tember 24th, 1881, at Plymbridge, near Plymouth. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF ANTS.* 

 By Sib John Lubbock, Bart, M.P., F.R.S., Pres. Linn. See. 



Recognition of Relations. 



In my previous paper f I have recorded some experiments 

 made with pupae in order to determine in what manner ants 

 recognise their comrades. 



For instance, I separated a nest of Formica fusca into two 

 divisions in the spring before the season for laying eggs. Then 

 in the autumn I took ants from one half (which I may call A) and 

 put them into the other half (which I may call B). Thus, of 

 course, there could be no question of individual recognition. 

 Nevertheless, in nine cases such ants were received as friends. 

 This season, again, on the 10th April, 1881, I divided a two- 

 queened nest of Formica, leaving a queen in each half. At that 

 time no eggs had yet been laid, and of course there were no larvae 

 or pupse. In due course both queens laid eggs, and the young 

 ants were brought up in each half of the nest. I will call the two 

 halves, as before, A and B. On the 15th August, at 9 a.m., I put 



* Concluding Abstract of a Paper read before the Linnean Society, November 

 17th, 1H81, continued from Entom. xv. 56. 

 + Journ. Linu. Soc. vol. xiv. p. GIO. 



