252 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



these females had never paired, and were provided 

 with wings, they laboured so well that I found on the 

 following morning three workers among them. Some 

 days after, T saw them occupied in delivering other 

 labourers from their last envelope : they acted in the 

 same way as ordinary ants, and did not appear to be 

 at all embarrassed in the part which they now per- 

 formed for the first time. It is, therefore, evident that 

 females, in case of necessity, are enabled, unassisted, 

 to educate their family. I have endeavoured to as- 

 sure myself of this fact by proofs still more positive. 

 After long researches, I discovered the retreat of these 

 females, and the infant colonies which they had esta- 

 blished, situated at a little depth in the earth, a small 

 number of workers only being seen by the side of 

 the mother, and some larvae which they nourished. 

 I have seen two examples of these newly-established 

 colonies *." But, with all deference to M. Huber, 

 we are clearly of opinion that these new establish- 

 ments were composed of old workers, who, in their 

 scouting expeditions, had discovered and seized upon 

 fertile females, a circumstance of which we have wit- 

 nessed numerous instancesf. 



The age to which these females live does not seem 

 to have been ascertained ; but it does not probably 

 last above a few weeks after laying, at least, if we 

 may judge by analogies drawn from other insects. 

 We are certain of one thing, that, on opening the 

 nests of the wood-ant (F. rufa) and of the yellow-ant 

 (F. flava) , during the winter, we have never been 

 able to detect a female ; but whether some of the 

 late-hatched females, as is the case with wasps and 

 humble-bees, pair in winter and lay eggs in spring, 

 or whether they lay their eggs in autumn, from which 

 the summer females are subsequently hatched, we 

 are still in the dark ; though it is a point that might, 

 * Huber, utsup. t J - R - 



