_ Xvi PREFACE 
abled to disclose some of the secrets in 
the History of Ants, whose societies, al- 
though much more extensive, present 
gveater difficulties, in the investigation, 
from the diminutive size-of the indivi- 
dua s composing them, and the obscurity 
in which most of their operations are en- 
veloped. 
These researches, which I am aware 
are still very imperfect, present so re- 
markable an assemblage of facts, that I 
am induced to lay them before the ama- 
teurs of Natural History, hoping they will 
meet a favourable reception. 
Not to interrupt the course of my ob- 
servations by anatomical details, I have 
placed in the introduction all that relates 
to the external organization of Ants. I 
have also added an abridged notice of 
factscollected by other Naturalists, whose 
writings may be easily procured, should 
the reader feel desirous of obtaining fur- 
ther information. 
In these researches I have followed no 
methodical arrangement, having adopted 
