AMAZON ANTS. 207 
duous, attention the most unwearied, I 
never yet perceived any which were not 
in every respect like those I have de- 
scribed. Their departure and the cir- 
cumstances attending it is by no means 
a point of indifference. For several 
successive days they come to the surface 
of the nest, surrounded by the Mining 
Ants, who form their escort, and take the 
same care of them as the workers in 
simple ant-hills, of the males and females 
of their own species. At length they quit 
the nest and commence their aérial 
excursions. ‘9? 
On the 31st July, at half-past ten in the 
morning, I saw several little black males 
issue from a compound Negro ant-hill; 
accompanied by a considerable number 
of Negro Ant labourers. The number 
of males were continually increasing ; 
several Amazons on this occasion also 
left the nest, and came among them,. 
although it was to them an unaccustomed 
hour; they approached the males and 
licked them after the manner of the 
05 
