174 Psyche [December 
2. The fact that one of the sitkaénsis colonies observed July 9 
contained two fully adopted swbumbratus queens and one on the 
verge of adoption suggests the question as to whether all three 
queens would survive as mothers of the compound colony or 
whether two of them would be subsequently eliminated. This 
question can, of course, be answered only by further investigation. 
But as the various species of the genus Lasius hitherto observed 
are decidedly haplometrotic it seems probable that at least in the 
majority of cases of adoption of several subumbratus queens by a 
sitkaénsis or neoniger colony, the number must be subsequently 
reduced to unity either by combats among the queens or by the 
regulatory intervention of the workers. 
3. My field observations leave some doubt as to whether , 
sitkaénsis or neoniger is the true, or normal host of subuwmbratus. 
Indirect evidence, however, points to the former variety, since the 
queens and workers of subwmbratus are much more like the cor- 
responding phases of sitkaénsis in size and coloration and since 
pure adult colonies of these forms prefer the same shady environ- 
ment and have the same hypogzic habits. Reiff’s Nova Scotia 
specimens of subumbratus queens from sitkaénsis nests may also 
be cited in this connection. L. neoniger, therefore, would be an 
unusual or perhaps recently acquired host, and the conditions 
would be comparable to those of the typical European umbratus, 
whose normal host is the typical niger, though it is occasionally 
parasitic, as Donisthorpe has shown (1915), on the subspecies 
alienus, the normal host of miztus. 
The rather large number of observed cases of adoption of 
subumbratus seems to indicate that the queen of this subspecies is 
specially favored as compared with the queens of some other 
temporary social parasites (e. g. Formica rufa and truncicola) by 
the possession of peculiar myrmecophilous characters (trichomes, 
exudate organs). I believe that the beautiful golden yellow color 
and pilosity of the swhumbratus queen, which make it resemble the 
queens of Formica consocians, ciliata, criniventris and oreas, the 
smaller stature and the delicate odor may be designated as such 
characters. In this connection I may call attention to the queen 
of Lasius crinitus, long ago described by Frederick Smith from 
Cashmir, as being in all probability a temporary social parasite on 
L. niger or one of its varieties. I have recently seen a few queens 
