IS 



COLORATION IN POUSTES. 



variability. Thus, while some colonies, as h and k, and notably g, 

 adhere closely to one type, others display a diversity of feature em- 

 bracing the whole range of types observed. Colonies a, b, d, and m 

 well illustrate this. 



Fortunately the color characters of the founders of some of these 

 nests are known, and we will consider next a few of these cases. The 



FIG. 9. The distribution by nests in the general scheme of representation for types. The 13 

 nests are indicated by the first 13 letters of the alphabet ; n indicates material taken 

 at random. 



founder of nest f was conspicuously black and yellow. The thorax 

 and face had the usual yellow lines, and the abdomen was character- 

 ized by prominent metameric yellow spots and borders. In the 48 

 specimens taken from the nest of this female, and I am sure that no 

 strange queen or worker was ever allowed to intrude here, owing to 

 the vigilance of the owner, we find displayed the following character- 



