INSTINCTS OF ANTS. 575 



from which it was brought in the morning; and after this they are 

 carefully fed by the workers, who nourish them with the food 

 they have collected during the day. 



When the larvae have attained their full growth, they spin a 

 cocoon, in which they remain as pupae until the time of their 

 final change. In this state they are commonly, but erroneously, 

 known under the name of " eggs ;" and being a favourite article 

 of food with pheasants and partridges, they are eagerly sought 

 after by persons who rear these birds from the egg. The cocoons 

 containing the pupae are of a long cylindrical form, and of a dirty 

 white colour ; and the contained animals are perfectly motionless. 

 When ready to come forth as perfect Ants, they cannot, like most 

 other Insects, set themselves free from their envelope ; but they 

 are dependent upon the assistance of the workers, who moisten it 

 and cut it with their mandibles, and then gently draw forth the 

 contained body. The greatest care is bestowed upon the winged 

 Ants, the perfect males and females, on which the continuance 

 of the race depends ; these are most assiduously tended by the 

 workers, who cleanse their bodies, extend their wings, supply 

 them with food, and accompany them in their wanderings 

 through the hive. A large number of the winged Ants are 

 produced every season in each community ', and they may be 

 frequently seen in the autumn, covering almost the whole surface 

 of the hillock. The greater number of these, however, perish in 

 various ways ; and only a small number remain, either to found 

 new colonies, or to keep up the population of the parental resi- 

 dence. Sometimes the new colony is commenced by the queen 

 alone: who excavates her future dwelling-place, and lays the 

 eggs, feeds the larvae, and tends the pupae, without any assist- 

 ance; but the workers that are first produced, then aid her in 

 the requisite attentions to the subsequent progeny. In other 

 instances, the queen falls in with a few workers, that have wan- 

 dered, at this period of excitement, to an unusual distance from 

 the nest ; and if so, they unite their labours with hers. 



The most remarkable fact connected with the history of Ants, 

 is the propensity possessed by certain species to kidnap the 

 workers of other species, and to compel them to labour for the 

 benefit of the community, thus using them completely as slaves ; 

 and, as far as we yet know, the kidnappers are red or pale- 

 coloured Ants, whilst the slaves are of a jet black. The time for 

 capturing slaves extends over a period of about ten weeks, and 

 never commences until the male and female Ants are about 

 coming forth from the pupa state ; and thus the marauders never 



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