FORMICA. 271 



roofed over along much of their extent with vegetable detritus and 

 connect the different nests of a colony with one another 44 . 



In June, 1911, I discovered two pratensis nests situated close to 

 each other among the fir-trees near the Loch at Rannoch 47 , the 

 one a small, rather flat hillock, the other considerably larger 

 built over a pine stump, both being constructed of pine-needles, 

 bits of heather, etc. On June 10th the smaller nest was dug up, 

 and some workers were taken, but no queen was found, and on June 

 12th the inhabitants were found to have deserted the remains of 

 their nest and to have amalgamated with those of the larger colony. 

 It was found impossible to get at the bottom of the large nest, even 

 with the help of a spade and axe on account of the deeply rooted 

 pine stump, and again no queens were found. 



In July, 1913, a number of colonies were found in this same 

 spot 49 which consisted of rough, hilly ground, some parts of it 

 swampy, with higher dry places and paths winding round the 

 stumps of cut-down trees among the heather, with a number of 

 large Scots Firs scattered about the workers travelling long 

 distances on the paths to some of the nests. The bottoms of these 

 nests consisted of chambers and galleries constructed in the peaty 

 ground beneath the hillocks, and in these galleries dealated females 

 were found. 



Forel observed a colony of F. pratensis migrating to a new nest, 

 with a third nest serving as a magazine midway. He says the 

 workers carry their fellows, and also the females, and males, by 

 the mandibles, in the same manner as that employed by F. rufa, 

 and the migrating of pratensis is distinguished from that of san- 

 guinea and fusca, by their greater numbers together (plus grand 

 ensemble) 2 *. It was during this migration that he made his calcula- 

 tion as to the numbers of the inhabitants of a nest (referred to under 

 rufa), and he also observed the curious behaviour of a large 

 worker, which was evidently unwell, stumbling on the old nest, 

 with the tarsi and antennae drooping, with one mandible open 

 and the other shut. He saw other workers approach her, lick, and 

 tap her with their antennae, and endeavour to lead her gently, 

 pulling her by the legs, into the interior of the nest. One more 

 persistent worker tried hard to rouse her, and the suffering ant 

 at last appeared to understand a little more what was wanted, 

 tucking up her legs and antennae, and allowing herself to fall, but 

 without grasping the mandible of the other worker. The latter 

 at last seized hold of two of her legs and carried her towards the 

 new nest. This couple was found a quarter of an hour later several 

 paces along the route towards the new nest, the carrier persisting 

 in conveying the sick ant forward in that direction. Forel says 

 here is a case where an ant which was unwell was made the subject 

 of special attentions by her companions ; Ebrard and Huber cite 

 some more touching but, perhaps, less certain cases. As Forel 



