42, THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 
I am much indebted to my friend Mr. Edwards, of Birmingham, 
for invaluable help, for he took care of the pupe, and killed and set 
the imagines for me, in spite of the very numerous calls on his time. 
I hope to record further details at a future date, as other small 
families of the same strain were reared during the six years, and all 
tend to prove that Mendelian laws of heredity prevail in A. betularia, 
although the occurrence of intermediate forms and the special liability 
to disease of this species when in captivity, have prevented the 
accumulation of much evidence to support this. 
Prolonged life in a headless ant. 
By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.E.S. 
October 15th, 1917.—Mr. Donisthorpe took a colony of Myrmica 
scabrinodis at Weybridge. 
October 21st.—Mr. Donisthorpe says that all the ants of this colony 
have entered the new nest. On one or other of these dates or on some 
intermediate one, a certain ant became decapitated. 
October 25th.—The above nest passed into my possession for the 
benefit of the larva of Lycaena alcon, and Mr. Donisthorpe pointed out 
to me the headless worker. 
November 2nd.—The headless ant is still alive. 
November 3rd.—It has moved to the next compartment, no doubt 
moved by ants; as it does not seem to move voluntarily, but sits up 
and moves a little when touched by passing ants. 
November 4th.—Moved to another compartment, no doubt carried. 
November 5th.—As well as usual. 
November 10th.—Seen to-day, quite lively, is away from other 
ants, moves when touched. 
November 13th.—Still living. 
November 14th.—Found in midden, lively, removed it from 
midden. 
November 15th.—Is being held by another ant, seemed as usual 
when released. 
November 18th.—Lively. 
November 19th.—Carried or held by an ant, kicks in a lively 
manner. 
November 24th.—Unseen for two days. It is to-day amongst the 
ants in brood nest, to which it must have been carried by ants, it is 
seen when they scattered, seems alive and well. 
November 26th.—In centre of a compartment, well. 
November 28th.—In middle of a compartment, seems strong, but 
doesn’t move unless touched. 
November 29th.—Now alone in space beyond the one in which it was 
yesterday, obviously carried by ants. A few days ago it was noticed to 
be without the second left leg. It was assumed that this had occurred 
in the original accident in which the head was lost, but had been over- 
looked, though it was looked at so often that it seemed an explanation 
hard to accept. ‘To-day all three left legs are missing. ‘Two of these, 
therefore, and almost certainly the first also, must have been removed 
by the ants, either intentionally or in struggles as to who should carry 
it off. It sits up on the three right legs and gets on them again when 
shoved over. 
