122 Psyche [June 
REVIEWS. 
Wheeler, William Morton. Ants, Their Structure, Development and Be- 
havior. 830 pp. XXV+663, figs. 286. New York, 1910, Columbia Univer- 
sity Press. The MacMillan Co. $5.00. 
It is very rarely that the available literature of entomology has been 
so enriched by a single contribution as by Professor Wheeler’s book on 
ants, for until its appearance, the general reader, and even the student 
of entomology, has had no place to go for an accurate digest of the facts 
relating to this most interesting and important group of insects. The 
author’s extensive contributions to myrmecology during the past decade 
have rendered him peculiarly fit to undertake this difficult task of pre- 
senting the subject both in its zodlogical and psychological aspects, since 
a very considerable part of the book deals with his own investigations, 
hitherto scattered, like the other literature of the subject, in a large 
number of scientific journals. 
The subject matter is presented under three main divisions: structure, 
development and behavior. The last of these occupies by far the larger 
part of the book, representing the aspect of greatest interest at the 
present time, as well as the one into which the author’s research has 
principally led him. 
There are very complete accounts of the external and internal structure 
of ants, preceded by an introductory chapter on “Ants as dominant in- 
sects.” The presentation of their development is supplemented by an ex- 
tensive chapter of the complicated phenomena of polymorphism and its 
causes. Following these are chapters on the history of myrmecology and 
the classification of ants, their geographical distribution, and a summary 
of the present knowledge concerning fossil ants. 
Introducing the chapters on ethological topics is an account of the 
habits of ants in general and their various types of nests. Following these 
are taken up the habits of a number of circumscribed groups, each of 
which illustrates a characteristic mode of life. These are: the Ponerine 
ants, the driver and legionary ants, the harvesting ants, the fungus-grow- 
ing ants and the honey ants. Together with these is a chapter on the 
relations of ants to vascular plants, and following them three chapters 
on myrmecophilous insects. 
A consideration of the compound nests of ants introduces the matter 
relating to parasitic and slave-making ants which is very full and com- 
plete. The last three chapters on the sensations of ants, the instinctive 
behavior of ants and the plastic behavior of ants deal with the fascinating 
psychological aspects of myrmecology. 
