CURIOUS AK MATURE. 



435 



master Ants always select the pupse of the worker slaves. The 

 slaves are not always of the same species, for the master Ant, 

 which has been taken as an example, takes indifferently the 

 pupa of Formica fusca and Formica cunicularia. 



The very curious nest which is shown below is drawn of its 

 natural size, and is the work of an insect called Polyrachis 

 textor, a native of Malacca. 



The nest looks exactly as if it were made of coarse hair, and 

 is of so open a texture that the inmates may be seen through 

 the walls. Although the workers are tolerably common, the 

 males are hardly ever to be seen, and the females are compara- 

 tively rare. The colour of the insect is black. 



Fig. 222. — Polyrachis textor. 

 (Black.) 



There are many species of this genus in different parts of the 

 world. The generic name Polyrachis signifies " many-ridged," 

 and is given to the insects on account of the projections which 

 appear on various parts of their bodies. Perhaps the most 

 remarkable species in this respect is Polyrachis bihamata, an 

 insect which is found both in India and Borneo. The name 

 bihamata signifies " double-backed," and is very appropriate. 

 Upon the upper surface of the thorax are set two hooks, sharply 

 pointed, curved backwards, and sloped almost exactly like the 

 horns of the chamois. These are long and conspicuous, but are 

 far surpassed by two other hooks which rise from the centre 

 of the footstalk which connects the abdomen with the thorax. 



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