HONEY ANTS 



plates at various degrees of separation, according to the 

 amount of food taken. In the honey-bearer the three 

 middle plates become wholly isolated, appearing as 

 minute islets on the tensely stretched translucent ab- 

 dominal membrane. 



Meanwhile the backward pressure of the expanding 

 crop forces the other organs before it, until they lie hud- 

 dled together in the extreme end of the now rounded 

 abdomen. It seems strange that creatures could live 

 in such a condition, and in apparent good health. But 

 so it is. Their habit is sedentary in the extreme, as they 

 keep closely to their perches; but they can readily shift 

 their positions, and when laid upon a smooth surface 

 can move about with some celerity. 



GRADUAL EXPANSION, FROM A TO C, OF THE CROP IN A HONEY ANT 



The point here to note is the gradual stages by which 

 a worker passes into the rank of honey-bearer. Large 

 numbers were kept imder observation, and finally dis- 

 sected, and the progress from "replete" to "rotund," as 

 shown in the illustrations, was well established. 



Ill 



