ANT QUEENS 



ants quickly had them back into the formicary, usually 

 leading them by an antenna. The males, too, were 

 objects of sohcitude, and were kept in until the time 

 for the grand exodus arrived. I have suspected that, 

 notwithstanding this vigilance, a queenling of excep- 

 tional enterprise occasionally would escape, and go 

 solitary to her destiny. 



On the eleventh day after the appearance of the 

 sexed Sanguineas, preparations for the flitting began. 

 Early in the morning the slaves {Formica subsericea) 

 commenced to throw aside the embankments which 

 they had piled around the edges of the frame, and to 

 excavate beneath it. Several openings were thus made 

 to the principal apartments. The Sanguine mistresses 

 now became very active. Numbers passed rapidly 

 along the lines of black workers. They occasionally 

 stopped to assist; then proceeded to another group as 

 if to encourage and inspect the work, and again disap- 

 peared within. This contmued until about the middle 

 of the day, when a large number of the Sanguineas 

 joined their slaves in the trenches. Several large ap- 

 ertures were soon made beneath the east and south 

 sides of the frame. 



Now came sundown, and the queenlings, with their 

 partners and escorts began to issue from the gates. Five 

 wide doors had been opened, through which streams of 

 insects with agitated wings were flowing. Many excited 

 workers hung around the doors. They were not hinder- 

 ing the exit now, but forwarding it. And the outgoers 

 seemed eager for the change. They mounted blades of 

 grass and stems of plants and from thence took wing. 

 The foliage of the trees in the thick grove hindered 

 free and continuous flight, and soon the leaves were 



23 



