FECUNDATION OF ANTS. 115 
then covered it with a bell-glass. I yet 
possessed three fecundated ants, one of 
which I introduced under the recipient. 
I induced her to go there freely, by pre- 
senting to her a fragment of straw, on 
which she mounted, and upon this I con- 
veyed her to her new habitation without 
touching her; scarcely did she perceive 
the earth which covered the bottom of 
her abode, than she extended her wings, 
with some effort, bringing them before 
her head, crossing them in every direc- 
tion, throwing them from side to side, 
and producing so many singular con- 
tortions, that her four wings fell off at the 
same moment,in my presence. After this 
change she reposed, brushed her corslet 
with her feet, then traversed the ground, 
evidently appearing to seek a place of 
shelter; she seemed not to have the 
slightest idea that she was confined 
within a narrow enclosure. She partook 
of the honey I gave her, and at last 
found a hiding-place under some loose 
earth, which formed a little natural 
grotto. 
