1906.] Wheeler, Founding of Colonics by Queen Ants. 73 



Experiment 25. July 13. A winged female exsectoides that was being dragged 

 about in the galleries of a wild colony of F. sanguinea var. subintegra by 

 the siibsericea slaves was released and at 3 p. m. dealated and introduced into 

 the dark chamber of a nest containing 12 suhsericea workers and many cocoons. 

 As soon as her presence was perceived the workers snatched up their cocoons 

 and fled with great precipitation into the light chamber. Soon the female 

 found the opening and also escaped into the same chamber. The suhsericea 

 approached her from time to time but seemed to be afraid to attack her. At 

 such times she crouched, folded her antennas, and rapidly titillated the workers' 

 heads with their tips. Sometimes she begged for food, but her appeals were 

 ignored. Her whole behavior could only be described as humble and supplicat- 

 ing, and recalled very vividly the behavior of the F. consocians female in the 

 presence of alien incerta workers. Soon, however, the suhsericea began to seize 

 the tips of her antennae and then a leg, pulling mildly and spasmodically at 

 first, but growing bolder, apparently on becoming aware of the inoffensive 

 attitude of the female. At 5.30 p.m. she was released and at once began to 

 lick the mouth-parts of one of the workers in a most affectionate manner while 

 rapidly vibrating her antennae. July 14, 6.30 a. m., the female was found dying 

 in the light chamber, with a hole gnawed in her gaster. The workers had de- 

 voured her viscera during the night. Her legs and antennae, however, were 

 still intact. 



Experiment 26. July 16. 3.20 p.m. A fine active exsectoides female was 

 placed in a nest with 14 medium-sized suhsericea workers and many nude 

 pupae. She was at once attacked and dragged about by her appendages. 

 Without resisting, she folded her appendages close to her body and allowed 

 herself to be pulled about passively, making slow appealing movements with 

 her antennae. At 4.30 p. m. she was still being maltre.ated by a number of 

 the workers, but made no attempt to retaliate, though she bit my finger when 

 I tried to remove her from the nest. The workers endeavored to force their 

 mandibles into her body, but they slipped from her polished integument. Then 

 they tried to saw off her legs at their coxal articulations. By 7.20 p. m. they 

 had amputated one leg. July 17, 7.30 A. m. The female was still alive, but had 

 been shorn of both antennas and several legs. Two workers were busily gnaw- 

 ing at her hips. The experiment was discontinued. 



Experiment 27. July 23, x p. m. A fine female exsectoides was placed in a 

 nest with 7 suhsericea workers and 14 nude worker pupae nearly ready to hatch. 

 She was not at once attacked by the workers, who approached her rather tim- 

 idly, opened their mandibles a little in a menacing attitude and then turned 

 away. She showed no signs of fear but stretched forth her long antennae and 

 caressed each worker when it approached. From 2.50 to 5 p. m. she was being 

 pulled about by one of her antennae or legs. July 24, 8 a.m., the female was 

 snuggling quietly in a corner with the workers and their brood. No signs of 

 hostility were witnessed during the day. From that day to the present writing 

 (Sept. 5) the female has lived in perfect amity with the seven original workers 

 and ten others that had hatched soon after her adoption. She is fed by the 

 workers, and, though the tiny colony occupies but little space in the nest, is 

 ■always found in their company. 



