39 



Brazil and Bolivia I have known benefit to follow the use of this 

 plant. 



It to a certain extent replaces food. It acts as a stimulant, 

 like alcohol, but with more lasting effect, and is not followed by 

 depression. It is very useful in convalescence after exhausting- 

 diseases. It is useful as a tonic, and may be employed where 

 quinine and bark disagree. It is a powerful restorer of the 

 vital forces ; it has given much satisfaction as a curative in many 

 forms of dyspepsia. — It is said to have a special action on the 

 vocal cords, strengthening the voice while singing. 



It is much used, and with great benefit, in various pulmonary 

 affections. 



PAPER BY COL. HORSLEY ON THE "EGGS" OF 



EMMETTS OR ANTS. 



June 2, 1880. 



Colonel Horsley on exhibiting a microscopical slide showing 

 the " eggs " of emmetts, or ants said. In truth, however, these 

 so-called " eggs" are simply the cocoons, in which the insects 

 are passing their pupal state before emerging in their winged 

 condition. It is only the perfect males and females which 

 possess wings, and these only retain them for a brief period of 

 their existence. As soon as they gain sufficient strength, they fly 

 upward in the air, where they seek their mates, and soon descend 

 to earth. The males, having nothing further to do, speedily 

 die ; but the females begin to make provision fur future house- 

 holds. They begin operations by getting rid of their wings, 

 which are no longer needed, and this they effect by pressing 

 the ends of the wings against the ground and then forcing them 

 suddenly downwards. The wing then snaps off at the joint. 

 Besides males and females there are " neuters," or workers, 

 which play a very important part in the economy of ant life. 

 The neuters have no wings. The females after returning to the 

 nest labour diligently until sufficient workers are hatched to set 

 them free form " menial " offices. Their principal business from 

 this time is the laying of eggs, which are received and tended 

 with the greatest care by the workers. These carry them from 

 the place where they are dropped and carefully deposit them in 

 .suitable chambers, moistening them, it is said, from their own 

 mouths. According to Mr. Hubner, the workers, or nurses, 

 bestow the most assiduous attention upon the eggs, daily 

 removing them to those parts of the nest of which the tempera- 

 ture is most suitable. When the time for its perfection arrives, 

 the larva, having spun its own cocoon, is not only extricated by 

 the workers from its silken shroud, but even receives their 

 assistance in divesting itself of the delicate membrane which still 

 has to be stripped from its body. The slide shows two workers 

 and several cocoons in different stages of development — Colonel 



