PROLONGED LIFE IN A HEADLESS ANT. 43 
November 30th.—Found in the midden, it is, however, quite lively, 
though it has now only two legs, the right bind lee being now 
missing. 
December Ist.—Is alive and with two legs, is nearly where left 
yesterday, an ant stood over it as if holding it, but went away when 
disturbed. 
December 38rd.—Alive and lively (for her). 
December 6th.—Not seen for two days, probably in ant mass, to- 
day is in midden, but, when washed, uses her (2) legs as actively as 
ever. 
Docember 7th.—Alive, alone. 
December 8th.—Lively. 
December 9th.—Alive and well. 
December 11th.—Rescued from midden, washed, quite lively. 
December 12th.—F ound in midden, apparently drowned in melted 
honey, the ants having made midden on the glass on which honey was 
offered them, when cleaned moved legs feebly, but doesn’t look likely 
to recover. 
December 13th.—Really dead. 
This ant lived possibly from October 15th, certainly from the 21st, 
until December 12th without its head, a minimum period of 52 days, 
or a possible maximum, October 15th to December 13th, of 59 days. 
Mr. Donisthorpe tells me there are records of a headless ant living 
22 and 29 days. 
It had no initiative, and unless touched did not try to move, but 
moved its legs readily when disturbed. The ants carried it about; 
always, however, leaving it solitary in the middle of a compartment of 
the nest until the 29th day (dating from October 15th) when it was 
found in the ‘‘midden,” usually a bit of glass placed in the nest with 
tood for the ants on it. Rescued from this, it was found next day held 
by an ant, and again four days later. On the 40th day it was found 
in the brood-nest, where it had apparently been for two days, during 
which it had not been seen elsewhere. For some days after this it was 
left alone in the middle of one compartment or another, but carried to 
a fresh one, of course by the ants. About the 42nd day it lost a leg, 
and on the 45th it had lost all the left legs. On the 46th it was again 
in the midden and had lost another leg, having now only two, it was 
quite lively when rescued. On the 52nd day it wag found again in the 
midden, but from not being seen had probably been for two days in the 
brood-nest. Remained till the 57th day, alive as before, but was then 
found in the midden, rescued, and seemed lively. On the 58th day was 
found in the midden drowned in honey; when rescued and cleaned 
moved feebly, but was quite dead on the 59th day. 
This history shows how the ants treated the maimed individual, 
except as to whether they removed its limbs accidentally or inten- 
tionally. It may be worth noting that it survived 15 days after losing 
a leg in addition to its head, and for 12 days the loss of four of its legs. 
Its life was probably shortened. by the drowning, owing to my not 
having seen and rescued it in time, and not altogether due to debility 
from its injuries. 
[Norz.—The ant in question was probably decapitated with the 
glass roof pane of the observation nest, on the evening of October 
15th, when a few % % were placed in the nest, to show the way to the 
