Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 1 1 



several inches below the surface. There was no external evi- 

 dence of the presence of this large colony. In those passage- 

 ways that were laid bare by the removal of the rock there 

 were quantities of pupae, all of which were immediately hurried 

 below ground by the workers. In this colony a number of the 

 pale yellow workers of Lasius flaznis nearcticus were noted. 

 The two species were apparently living in perfect harmony, 

 as the Lasii ran about the complicated tunnels of the larger 

 ants with freedom and apparent familiarity. It seems prob- 

 able that this was essentially another plesiobiotic association, 

 and' that the nest of the Lasii had been destroyed in the dis- 

 turbance caused by the removal of the stone; yet the free 

 mingling of the two species without any show of. mutual rela- 

 tions makes it seem possible that tlie association might be in the 

 nature of parabiosis. (See Wheeler's Ants, p. 425 and Amer- 

 ican Naturalist, 35, pp. 524-528.) Although the writer cannot 

 offer a definite interpretation of the relation, he can find no 

 mention of its occurrence and takes this opportunity to record 

 it. 



7. Aphaenogaster tennesseensis Mayr. — Owing to the 

 close association that exists between this parasitic species and 

 the preceding form, it is not surprising to find it common on 

 the island where the latter was so abundant. All the nests 

 found v.ere located in dead wood which was more or less 

 punky, and the favorite habitat was the low, damp, hardwood 

 forest. A large percentage of the nests were in the decayed 

 hearts of living trees, which had openings to the outside at the 

 base. At the base of almost every tree so decayed, could be 

 seen accumulations of excavated wood-dust that varied in 

 amount from a few particles to irregular piles that would fill 

 a quart measure. Though this was certainly the characteristic 

 site of the nests, others, and noticeably the largest, were found 



