482 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



but solitary animals can be free even in the wild state, for they 

 are held in absolute servitude by the leaders of the herds, and, if 

 they dare to disobey, are summarily punished. 



As the slaves are always neuters, it is necessary that fresh im- 

 portations should be made as fast as the demand for workers ex- 

 ceeds the supply ; and it is really a wonderful thing that the Ama- 

 zon Ants should always select the pupas which will afterward be 

 developed into neuters, and never take those from which males 

 or females will issue. 



The Amazon of the Continent is not the only Ant which en- 

 slaves the neuters of another species, for in different parts of the 

 world several species of Ants have been observed which seize 

 upon workers belonging to other nests, and bring them to do the 

 work of the home. A Brazilian species (Myrmica paleata) has 

 been observed to act in this manner. 



In the accompanying illustration are shown two remarkable 

 nests, made by insects of the same genus, which have been placed 

 side by side in order to show the different manner in which cells 

 are arranged by insects which are closely allied to each other. 



1 2 



Nests. Polistes Aterrima, etc. 



The smaller, though more conspicuous nest, is formed by an in- 

 sect which is called Polistes aterrima, a name which is very appro- 



