THE INSECTS OF SEPTEMBER. 219 



ant's nest when the exodus of the winged individuals is taking 

 place. The workers clear the roads of exit, and show the most 

 lively interest in their departure, although it is highly improb- 

 able that any of them will return to the same colony. The 

 swarming or exodus of the winged males and females of the 

 Saiiba ant takes place in January and February, that is, at 

 the commencement of the rainy season. They come out in the 

 evening in vast numbers, causing quite a commotion in the streets 

 and lanes.' We have quoted this passage from Mr. Bates' fasci- 

 nating book, because of the great similarity and dissimilarity in 

 the movements of the two species at this period of their exis- 

 tence. Remembering, at the time the above remarks concern- 

 ing the South American species, we looked carefully for the 

 workers, in this instance, and failed to discover above half a 

 dozen wingless ants above ground, and these were plodding 

 about, very indifferent, as it appeared to us, to the fate or wel- 

 fare of their winged brothers. And on digging down a few 

 inches, we could find but comparatively few individuals in the 

 nest, and could detect no movements on their parts that referred 

 to the exodus of winged individuals, then going on. 



"On the other hand, the time of day agrees with the remarks 

 of Mr. Bates. When we first noticed them, about 4 p. M., they 

 had probably just commenced their flight. It continued until 

 nearly 7 p. M., or a considerable time after sundown. The next 

 morning, there was not an individual, winged or wingless, to 

 be seen above ground ; the nest itself was comparatively empty ; 

 and what few occupants there were seemed to be in a semi- 

 torpid condition. Were they simply resting after the fatigue 

 and excitement of yesterday ? 



"It was not possible for us to calculate what proportion of 

 these winged ants were carried by the wind too far to return to 

 their old home ; but certainly a large proportion were caught 

 by the surrounding trees ; and we found, on search, some of 

 these crawling down the trunks of the trees, with their wings 

 in a damaged condition. How near the trees must be for them 

 to reach their old home, we should like to learn ; and what tells 

 them, 'which road to take ?' Dr. Duncan states,* It was for- 

 merly supposed that the females which alighted at a great dis- 

 tance from their old nests returned again, but Huber, having 



Transformations of Insects, p. 205. 



