Miscellaneous. 327 



course. The insect first rose to a height of about 20 feet, which 

 was soon increased to 40, 50, and even 60 feet (estimated) ; and this 

 latter height was maintained until the form was lost to sight. The 

 author was able to follow the ants in several instances to a distance 

 of more than 300 feet before they disappeared, at which time they 

 gave no sign of alightiug. Some were seen to alight at the distance 

 of 60 and 80 feet ; others flew into a large buttonwood-tree within 

 30 feet of the nest. 



The flight was in every case solitary, and was in all directions, 

 although generally in the direction of the breeze. The males were 

 in the meantime continually taking flight, urged thereto by teasing 

 workers, each separately, and wholly independent of other males 

 and of the females, as to the time and direction of flight. This fact 

 led Mr. McCook to infer that the pairing of the sexes must have 

 occurred within the nest before departure therefrom. Except in 

 the case of those individuals who lit upon the buttonwood-tree, 

 there appeared no opportunity for a meeting after flight. There 

 was nothing in all the facts to suggest the idea of a future consort. 

 The same feature of independent and solitary flight of the sexes 

 had been observed in the swarming of the shining slave-maker, 

 Polyeryus lucidus. This is in marked contrast with the habit of 

 some other ants as illustrated in an observation subsequently 

 given. 



Before taking flight the L. jiavus females spent some time in 

 combing and cleansing themselves. A female was placed among 

 the workers of another nest not more than a yard distant from her 

 own, in order to test the treatment of an alien. She was immedi- 

 ately attacked fiercely, and would no doubt have been soon killed 

 had she not been removed. In two formicaries from which the 

 above marriage-flight occurred, it was observed that the doors were 

 closed about half-past four p.m. by bits of dry grass and pellets of 

 soil. They so remained during the night, or at least were found 

 closed in the morning, Three days thereafter several males were 

 found nestled under a chip by the roadside. As soon as the chip 

 was turned up, two of these were seized by a couple of prowling 

 ants of the species Tetramorium ccespitum and Formica Schaufussi, 

 and carried off as prey, a suggestion of the common fate of emmet 

 masculines. 



Mr.McCook's attention had been called to an article in a Hollidays- 

 burg (Pennsylvania) journal, which reported a remarkable swarm of 

 ants that had crossed that town on the 13th September, 1876. He 

 immediately wrote to the Kev. D. H. Barron, a citizen of the place, 

 and a gentleman of intelligence and prudence, giving certain points 

 which it was desirable to ascertain. The ants, in the course of 

 their flight, had come into contact with the mechanics at work upon 

 the tower of the new court-house, whom it was reported they had 

 assaulted vigorously. Mr. Barron visited these men, and, after a 

 careful interview communicated the following facts : — The flight 

 actually occurred substantially as reported; the day was clear, warm. 



