386 ORDERS OF PTILOTA. 



the cells in which the future progeny are to be produced. 

 Again, in those species which have to search with much dili- 

 gence for the prey destined for the nourishment of their 

 progeny, the palpi (which appear to be organs of touch) 

 are elongated ; whereas, in those whose larva) are nourished 

 with honey, they are short, the flowers being discoverable 

 without difficulty by the sight, or by the antennae. Again, 

 the mandibles vary in their form, size, thickness, and tooth- 

 ing ; thus, in the females of some genera, they are more 

 robust than in the male, (see figures in p. 384), the former 

 sex being the sole architect of the nest, and having to perform 

 more laborious work than her partner ; so in those females 

 which have to cut the materials for their nests, they are thicker, 

 whilst in those which have heavy burthens to carry, they are 

 longer ; but the most extraordinary instance of this kind of va- 

 riation in the last-named organs, occurs in the neuters of some 

 species of ants. Many observers have remarked in the same 

 nest, neuters with large, and others with small jaws, the 

 former being employed in collecting food, and the latter re- 

 maining in the nest, out of which they only make their ap- 

 pearance to attack any enemy that may menace their com- 

 munity. M. Carcel was witness of this fact (first observed 

 by the celebrated Huber), the former of whom was witness 

 of the destruction of a scorpion by these minute, but extra- 

 ordinarily developed workers. M. Le Prieur has also ob- 

 served that the nests of the South American visiting ants 

 {Atta, Latreille), the neuters of which have short jaws, are 

 defended by other workers with exceedingly long mandibles ; 

 which organs are employed in stopjiing those individuals 

 which quit the ranks and might thus be lost, showing them 

 the right way. Latreille, not being aware of this remarkable 

 fact, has formed these long-jawed individuals into a distinct 

 genus under the name of Eciton. 



Many other equally interesting instances might be given 



