NOTES ON HYMENOPTERA. 71 



On the following morning I visited my ants' nest, when, 

 what was my astonishment, on beholding a line of black ants 

 extending from the nest to the root of a lilac tree in the corner 

 of the garden; onetroop of ants were on their way from the 

 tree to the nest, whilst another was travelling in the opposite 

 direction ; each ant laden either with a larva or pupa of 

 Formica exsecta. 



My hopes, plans and arrangements now appeared to be 

 completely destroyed; on reflection, however, I consoled 

 myself with the hope that the black ants, Formica nicji-a, 

 were only committing a raid upon the other species, after the 

 manner of the slave-making species Formica sanguinea. 



This idea, on mature consideration, not only revived my 

 hopes, but even added to my previous satisfaction ; a»d for 

 this reason: I was, in all probability, about to make a great 

 discoveiy ; I was about to prove that which had escaped 

 the notice of all previous observers, — Formica nigra was 

 to be discovered in the character of a slave-making ant. 

 I therefore allowed the pillage to go on; which it did, more 

 or less, for a day or two ; I even observed the black ants 

 dragging the workers of Formica exsecta oif to their own 

 nest. 



I was, however, doomed to be again disappointed ; in a 

 few days every larva, pupa and worker was conveyed into 

 the nest of Formica nigra, and from that time, the most 

 careful watching failed to discover any trace of Formica 

 exsecta; I have not any doubt of the whole contents of the 

 nest having become the food of the colony of the black ants. 



In July last, Mr. Rothney visited Bournemouth, just five 

 weeks subsequent to my doing so ; and on the 14th of the 

 month he wrote to me as follows: — " I discovered a nest 

 of ^exsecta' in a most secluded spot on the cliffs facing the 

 sea; and, most fortunately, found all the sexes." At this 



