136 FECUNDATION OF ANTS. 
the antenne over the head, took her up 
gently by its mandibles, when she laid 
hold of them, and rolled herself into a 
ball, under the corslet of the worker, 
who commenced his route, charged with 
his heavy burthen, proceeding at a 
quick pace, followed by the other ants, 
who came, from time to time, to touch 
the object of their solicitude. When 
the bearer was fatigued, it turned round; 
the female then unrolled her body, and, 
in place of being carried, was dragged 
along by the worker, who moved in a 
retrograde direction, with very little 
effort. Sometimes the queen stopped, for 
the purpose of changing her conductor: 
all her court then surrounded and 
offered her every mark of attention. In 
witnessing this scene, I was brought to 
the entrance of the ant-hill, where I lost 
sight of the female and her retinue. 
At another time, I took some Yellow 
Ants from their nest, with one of their 
females, and many small larve. I en- 
closed them in a glazed box, giving them 
