FECUNDATION OF ANTS. 129 
rays of the sun upon the nest to that de- 
‘gree, that its inhabitants could not sup- 
port it, and removed my glazed ant-hill to 
the garden, where I could observe the 
winged ants as if they were in full liberty. 
The greater number of the females 
quitted the nest, and never returned to 
it. A few remained upon the nest, and 
were there impregnated. One, after co- 
pulation, was about to take flight, when 
the labourers retained her by her feet, 
kept her down by main force, tore off 
her wings, and conducted her back to 
her residence, where they obstinately 
guarded her. Several others were seized 
by. the labourers, even in the very act of 
copulation, and immediately carried off 
to the bottom of the frame, were I saw 
them mutilated, and retained in cap- 
tivity. * 
* De Geer observed in a nest of Red Ants that 
the workers compelled some females, that were 
come out of the nest, to re-enter it. I visited twice 
or thrice a day, for some time, acolony of Red Ants, 
and never observed any male or female in it. The 
workers were engaged in taking care of the pupe, 
@ 5 
