314 Mr. F. W. Frohawk's F wilier Ohserrations on 



which had just passed through their third and last moult 

 ready for entering their new and remarkable mode of 

 existence. 



At 4.45 p.m. (August 13) we placed No. 1 larva on the 

 ground, which was partly cleared of growth, near the ants' 

 nest ; it wandered slowly about and was found by one of the 

 ants (laevinodis) at 5.50. The ant at once milked the larva 

 and remained with it until 6.30, when it seized the larva 

 and carried it off to one of the main entrances of its nest, 

 where three other larvae had been previously taken during 

 the past few days by laevinodis, which Capt. Purefoy had 

 seen. 



No. 2 larva was put down near the spot where No. 1 was 

 placed. No. 2 was found by a laevinodis just after 6.30, 

 and was carried off at 7.30 to the same main entrance; it 

 was at first taken down the mouth of a small passage 

 adjoining, but the ant reappeared, backing out with the 

 larva, and continued its backward career down the main 

 entrance carrying the larva, while two other ants at the 

 entrance saluted them as they passed by, immediately 

 before disappearing down the tunnel. 



No. 3 larva we turned down at 11 a.m., August 14. 

 This was placed on another bed of nests ; it was shortly 

 afterwards found by a laevinodis, in full sunshine, and 

 carried oft" to one of the nest entrances at 11.30. This 

 particular larva hunched itself four times before being 

 seized by the ant. 



No. 4 larva was put down (close to the spot where No. 3 

 was found by the ant) at 12.35, a laevinodis found it in 

 eight minutes and carried it oft to the centre of its nest, 

 covered -with thyme, etc., at 1.3 p.m. 



In each case all four larvae and ants behaved precisely 

 similar, except No. 3 larva, which signalled four times. 

 The individual ant which first finds the larva is always the 

 one to seize and carry it off. Although during its attend- 

 ance several other ants may find the larva and stay by it 

 a short time, and even milk it, they soon leave it to its 

 original attendant, who apparently informs them that their 

 services are not needed. 



Whether the ant signals to the larva for it to prepare 

 itself for transit, or the larva gives the ant the signal that 

 it is ready to be taken, seems doubtful ; but from what we 

 have seen both Capt. Purefoy and I are inclined to think 

 that the larva gives the signal. No. 3 larva alluded to 



