Ants. 5 



a cocoon, and sometimes remain naked. The 

 reason for this difference is still quite unknown. 

 After remaining some days in the pupa state 

 they emerge as perfect insects. In many cases, 

 however, they would perish in the attempt if they 

 were not assisted ; and it is very pretty to see the 

 older ants helping them to extricate themselves, 

 carefully unfolding their legs and smoothing out 

 their wings, with truly feminine tenderness and 

 delicacy. 



5. In the case of ants, as with other insects which 

 pass through similar metamorphoses such as bees, 

 wasps, moths, butterflies, flies, beetles, &c. the 

 larval stage is the period of growth. During the 

 chrysalis stage, though immense changes take 

 place, and the organs of the perfect insect are more 

 or less rapidly developed, no food is taken, and 

 there is no addition to the size or weight. 



The imago or perfect insect again takes food, 

 but 'does not grow. The ant, like all the insects 

 above named, is as large when it emerges from the 

 pupa as it ever will be, though the abdomen of the 

 females sometimes increases in size from the deve- 

 lopment of the eggs. 



6. We have hitherto had very little information as 

 to the length of life in ants in the imago, or perfect, 

 state. So far, indeed, as the preparatory stages 

 are concerned, there is little difficulty in approxi- 

 mately ascertaining the facts; namely, that while 

 in summer the larval condition lasts only a few 



