38 Transactions of the 



immediately hastened to the top, and then as soon came down to 

 inform the rest. So violent were they in their movements, that some 

 were observed to seize hold of those that did not understand, and 

 drag them forth. After leaving them about a quarter of an hour in 

 the sun, they placed them in shelter, and immediately proceeded to 

 enjoy themselves. The larva3 obtain their food from the workers 

 who attend them, by sucking their bodies, and searching, with their 

 mouths those of their attendants who then open their mandibles, and 

 allow them to take the juices they require. The larvae are kept 

 remarkably clean by the workers, who continually pass their tongues 

 and mandibles over their bodies. 



The next stage is that of the pupa, and a remarkable fact is, that 

 there are some which become pupte by forming a cocoon, and some 

 that become pupa without S]3inning. The pupge has the same shape 

 as the adult insect, and all that is wanting seems to be strength. 

 Those pupje that are enclosed in cocoons are liberated by their atten- 

 dants. The ants when first born are very helpless, and for the first 

 few days are accompanied by the labourers. 



We have traced the development of the eggs into males, females, 

 and workers, now let us follow their existence in their various states. 

 The males and females, as I said before, have wings. Now after 

 they have assumed the adult form, between July and September, they 

 quit the nest in which they were born, to seek a new home. Their 

 departure causes a great excitement among the workers who have been 

 attending them. The departure commences by the males, who, as from 

 one given impulse, take their flight, and are followed by the females. 

 The swarm takes no particular direction, but the ants raise and lower 

 themselves alternately, about ten feet above the surface of the ground 

 they have left. If a traveller happens to pass beneath the swarm, 

 they follow and accompany all his movements. In all probability 

 none ever return to the nest they have left. The question then 

 naturally arises, what then becomes of these males and females who 

 have thus taken their flight ? The males no doubt die within a very 

 short time, but the females, what happens to them ? M. Huber has 

 set this question to rest. He has discovered that the females, as soon 

 as they light upon the earth, immediately, of their own accord, begin 

 to divest themselves of their wings. Having lost their wings, they 

 become industrious, and construct lodges, and lay their eggs. The 

 eggs, larvEe, and pupse are taken great care of by the mothers, until 

 they finally assume the adult state, viz : males, workers, and females. 

 It must not be supposed that all the females quit the nest ; some 

 remain, whose duty it is to keep up the population of the nest. 

 Those females that are impregnated before leaving the nest are 

 forcibly retained by the workers, who, just before the swarm take 

 their flight, carry them off to the subterranean portion of the nest, 

 and make them prisoners. The captive female is attended and 

 guarded by a worker, who follows her everywhere, ministering to 

 her wants : these are the females I spoke of before, who lay eggs in 

 the nest which the workers carry away and store up. 



