124 FECUNDATION OF ANTS. 
There still remains another important 
_ question to solve — Would those females, 
who had not received the addresses of the 
male also deprive themselves of their 
wings, or would they continue to use 
them ? 
but these mole-hills were fixed upon by the females 
for the establishment of new colonies; and from their 
consisting of loose earth, and presenting several ca- 
vities, the labour of these insects in constructing 
a dwelling must be considerably lessened. It is’ 
highly probable, they had lately arrived there, and, 
therefore, had no time to commence their architee- 
tural operations, it being remarked they had no re- 
gular apartment. It would seem, by the above 
statement, that the females go in small parties to 
found new colonies, as well as singly ; which must 
haye happened with the female which fell under the 
notice of M. Perrot. The female which this gen- 
tleman saw, was engaged in tending her young. 
This certainly appears, on a first view, at variance 
with Gould’s remark, that the females which laid 
eggs “did not seem to take any great notice of 
them.’’ But it must be recollected, that the females 
were not placed under similar circumstances: the 
former having been discovered with her young in 
her own residence; the latter having produced 
their eggs in confinement, and doubtless fully con. 
scious of it.— T. 
