192 INSECTS. 



retreated returns to inform his thoughtless companions 

 of their danger: one he pushes with his jaws, another 

 he strikes first upon the belly and then upon the breast, 

 and so obliges three of them to leave off their carousing 

 and march homeward. But the fourth, more resolute to 

 drink it out, is not to be discomfited, and pays not the 

 least regard to the kind blows with which his compeer, 

 solicitous for his safety, repeatedly belabours him. At 

 length, determined to have his way, he seizes him by one 

 of his hind legs, and gives him a violent pull. Upon 

 this, leaving his liquor, the loiterer turns round, and 

 opening his threatening jaws, with every appearance of 

 anger, gcTes very coolly to drinking again. But his 

 monitor, without further ceremony, rushing before him, 

 seizes him by his jaws, and at last drags him off in 

 triumph to the nest." 



After a battle, or any accident which has befallen a 

 colony, the survivors invariably carry away their dead ; 

 in the case of a battle the conquerors carry away the 

 bodies of their own soldiers, leaving the others to their 

 fate. 



The community in which these insects live consists 

 primarily of the females and the workers, or " neuters," 

 or imperfect females. The males and females leave the 

 nest on arriving at perfection, and associate together for 

 a short time ; after which the males die, the females 

 alone returning to the nest, where they labour diligently 

 until sufficient workers are hatched to set them free from 

 " menial " offices. 



Their principal business from this time is the laying 

 of eggs, which are received and tended with the greatest 

 care by the workers. These carry them from the place 

 where they are dropped and carefully deposit them in 



