FECUNDATION OF ANTS. 133 
which follows her; this is relieved by 
others, who succeed it without interrup- 
tion; but when the maternity of the fe- 
male is well known, they commence by 
rendering her that homage which the 
bees evince for their queen. A court of 
from ten to fifteen ants continually fol- 
low her; she is unceasingly the object of 
their cares and caresses; all are eager to 
collect around her, offer her nourishment, 
and conduct her in their mandibles, 
through difficult and ascending passages. 
They also lead her through all the dif- 
ferent quarters of the ant-hill. The eggs, 
taken up by the labourers, at the instant . 
of their being laid, are collected around 
~her. When she seeks repose, a group of 
ants environ her. Several females live 
in the same nest; they show no rivalry ; 
each has her court; they pass each 
other uninjured, and sustain, in common, 
the population of the ant-hill; but they 
possess no power; which, it would seem, 
entirely lodges with the neuters. How- 
ever, as they receive the same honours 
