250 
young grasshoppers the metamorphoses have been passed 
through, so to speak, in the egg, while the bee larva is 
almost embryonic in its build.” Mr, Packard admits then 
that theoretically the Orthoptera do pass through trans- 
formations similar to those of metamorphic insects; 
though, while bees are hatched in an early larval, “al- 
most embyonic” condition, Orthoptera pass through 
these early stages rapidly, and within the egg. 
Mr. Packard then derives the various groups of Insecta 
as I do from ancestors more or less resembling the hexa- 
pod larve of Neuroptera, &c.; these from a more acari- 
form type ; and these again from lower, more vermiform 
ancestors. 
That the Lindia-type larvee of Diptera are of more 
recent origin than the Campodea-form larve of Neurop- 
tera of course I admit, because the palzontological evi- 
dence seems to show that the Neuroptera are a more 
ancient group than the Diptera ; but I am not the less of 
opinion that the Lindia type itself is more ancient than 
the Neuropterous, 
How far the form of any given existing larva is adap- 
tive and how far it is hereditary, isa comparatively minor, - 
though interesting question, and I am glad to find that 
there is less difference of opinion than I had supposed 
between Mr. Packard and myself as to the various stages 
through which in the long lapse of geological ages the 
existing types of insects have gradually been evolved. 
JoHN LuBBOCK 
NOTES ON THE HONEY-MAKING ANT OF 
TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO* 
Ape natural history of this very curious species (JZy7- 
mecocystus mexicanus Westwood) is so little known, 
that the preservation of every fact connected with its 
economy becomes a matter of considerable scientific im- 
portance, and the following observations, gleaned from 
Capt. W. B. Fleeson of this city, who has recently had 
an opportunity of studying the ants in their native haunts, 
may, it is hoped, be not without interest. 
The community appears to consist of three distinct 
kinds of ants, probably of two separate genera, whose 
offices in the general order of the nest would seem to be 
entirely apart from each other, and who perform the 
labour allotted to them without the least encroachment 
upon the duties of their fellows. The larger number of 
individuals consist of yellow worker ants of two kinds, 
one of which, of a pale golden yellow colour, about one- 
third of an inch in length, acts as nurses and feeders of 
the honey-making kind, who do not quit the interior of the 
nest, “their sole purpose being, apparently, to elaborate a 
kind of honey, which they are said to discharge into pre- 
pared receptacles, and which constitutes the food of the 
entire population. In these honey-seeking workers the 
abdomen is distended into a large, globose, bladder-like 
form, about the size of a pea.” The third variety of ant 
is much larger, black in colour, and with very formidable 
mandibles. For the purpose of better understanding the 
doings of this strange community, we will designate them 
as follows :— 
No. 1.—Yellow workers ; nurse and feeders. 
No. 2.—Yellow workers ; honey-makers. 
No. 3.—Black workers ; guards and purveyors, 
The site chosen for the nest is usually some sandy soil 
in the neighbourhood of shrubs and flowers, and the space 
occupied is about from four to five feet square. Unlike 
the nests of most other ants, however, the surface of the 
soil is usually undisturbed, and but for the presence of the 
insects themselves, presents a very different appearance 
from the ordinary communities, the ground having been 
subjected to no disturbance, and not pulverised and ren- 
dered loose as is the case with the majority of species. 
The black workers (No. 3) surround the nest as guard 
* By Henry Edwards, Californian Academy of Sciences. Communicated 
by Mr. Charles Darwin, F.R.S. 
NATURE 
|Fuly 24, 1873 
or sentinels, and are always in a state of great activity: 
They form two lines of defence, moving different ways, 
their march always being along three sides of a square, 
one column moving from the south-east to the south-west 
corners of the fortification, while the other proceeds in the 
opposite direction. In most of the nests examined by 
Captain Fleeson, the direction of the nest was usually 
towards the north; the east, West and northern sides 
being surrounded by the soldiers, while the southern por- 
tion was left open and undefended. In case of any enemy 
approaching the encampment, a number of the guards 
leave their station in the line and sally forth to face the 
intruder, raising themselves upon their hind tarsi, and 
moving their somewhat formidable mandibles to and fro_ 
as if in defiance of their foe. Spiders, wasps, beetles, 
and other insects are, if they come too near to the hive 
attacked by them in the most merciless manner, and the 
dead body of the vanquisbed is speedily removed from 
the neighbourhood of the nest, the conquerors marching 
back to resume their places in the line of defence, their 
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object in the destruction of other insects being the 
protection of their encampment, and not the ob- 
taining of food. While one section of the black 
workers is thus engaged as sentinels, another and still 
more numerous division will be found busily employed 
in entering the quadrangle by a diagonal line bearing 
north-east, and carrying in their mouths flowers and frag- 
ments of aromatic leaves which they deposit in the centre 
of the square. A reference to the accompanying sketch 
will give a more clear understanding of their course ;— 
the dotted line @ representing the path of this latter 
section, while the mound of flowers and leaves is marked 
c. If the line @ be followed in a south-west direction, 
it will be found to lead to the trees and shrubs upon 
which another division of the black workers is settled, 
engaged in biting off the petals and leaves to be collected 
and conveyed to the nest by their assistants below. On 
the west side of the encampment is a hole marked @ 
leading down to the interior of the nest, which is probably 
chiefly intended for the introduction of air, as in case of 
any individuals carrying their loads into it, they imme- 
