Mr. F. Smith's Notes, Sfc. 151 



XX. Notes on the Habits of various Species of British 

 Ants. By Mr. Frederick Smith. 



[Read September, 1839.] 



Being desirous of becoming acquainted with the natural history 

 of different species of British ants, I began by examining the nest 

 o? Formica rufa on the 4th of February. The structure which 1 have 

 before seen raised as high as two feet from the ground was then 

 nearly level with it. I dug to the depth of about a foot and there 

 found hundreds of neuters in a torpid state ; I carried home a 

 bag full of ants, materials, &:c., and by carefully examining them 

 found eight females : after beinfj a short time in a warm room 

 they began to show signs of life, and by placing some in a box 

 near the fire they soon recovered their wonted activity ; one of 

 the females had part of a wing remaining. I visited the nest on the 

 14th February, a remarkably warm and beautiful day, and found 

 a few stragglers running about the nest enjoying the sunshine, 

 but not apparently disposed to rebuild or collect materials for the 

 nest. I also saw several individuals of the species F. fuUginosa, 

 or jet ant. A succession of cold rainy weather followed, but on 

 visiting them the first week in April I foiuid they had commenced 

 their labours, and by the 28th had again raised their peopled 

 dome ; on removing the upper portion of it I found several 

 masses of eggs about two inches from the surface ; these masses 

 were about an inch and a half in length, and must, I should think, 

 have been deposited in that situation by the females, as the eggs 

 were attached together as if by some gummy substance ; a card 

 with some on will be found in the box of specimens, but they 

 have dried up so as to leave no appearance of any thing resembling 

 eggs. I amused myself by watching the movements of these 

 creatures, some carrying pieces of grass, leaves, sticks, &c., others 

 portions of dead beetles, flies, &c., or dragging, not only truants 

 of their own species, but making captives of individuals of even 

 other species and genera — for I observed in more than one instance 

 Myrmica rubra made prisoner; about twenty had seized upon a 

 large spider and were pulling him along with amazing perseverance, 

 while another swarm were refreshing themselves by devouring the 

 remains of an unfledged bird. Observing these things with some 

 attention, I saw a small Staj)hyl'mus issue from the nest and run 

 down the bank, at the top of which the nest is situated ; I cap- 

 tured it, and it proved to be Atemeles acum'matus. I searched in 



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