114 
PSYCHE 
[December 
agencies the attacks of lethal fungi and subterranean insects on the females after 
they have shut themselves off from the world in their earthern cells for the pur- 
pose of ovipositing and rearing their brood, we are able to understand why so 
very few of the myriads of female ants that annually take their nuptial flight, 
ever survive to become the mothers of flourishing colonies. 
