80 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



secretion for the purpose of spinning their cocoons. The 

 imagoes seize the larvae in their jaws, rubbing them backward 

 and forward over the edges of the leaves, when the sticky 



FIG. 47. Tunnels of a Mexican Blind Ant 



secretion is poured out and the edges of the leaves are drawn 

 together and kept there. 



Fig. 47 shows the tunnels of a species of blind ant from 

 Mexico, on the trunk of a "wild fig." The tunnels serve as a 

 safe means of communication between the nest underground 

 and the leaves of the tree. 



The honey-ant of Texas (Myrmecocys'tus mel'liger) has one 

 set of workers peculiarly modified to act as storage vessels 

 for sweets. The abdomens of these are distended with a store 

 of grape-sugar, till they are as large as a currant. These 

 workers cling to the roof of the nest, and in times of famine 

 can be drawn upon for food by the other workers. 



