PHENOMENA IN LIVES OF ANTS. 1 37 



prived of both antennae invariably moved backward or sidewise, 

 never forward, and queens deprived of the abdomen always 

 moved forward or sidewise. Since the publication of that paper, 

 it has appeared to me probable that the uniform differences in 

 the direction of movement coincident with uniform maiming of 

 the ants, might be explained by the change of the location of 

 the center of gravity within the body of the ant. Change of the 

 location of the center of gravity in the body of a queen upon 

 the loss of her wings after mating may also explain certain 

 changes observable at that period in her characteristic behavior. 

 The retiring tendency of the queen after deflation may be due 

 to the change in her center of gravity. 



F. Dr. H. A. Parr, of New York, has mentioned to me an 

 unpublished method used by him in tracking ants to their re- 

 spective colonies. From a fleck of raw cotton he makes a minute 

 torch-shaped ensign, colors the bluffy end in an anilin dye, and 

 dips the hard-twisted handle into melted sugar. Ants will pick 

 up this flag-like object, hold it by its sweet handle, and carry it 

 homeward. Being very light and flexible, it does not greatly 

 hinder the bearer in her progress through grasses and among 

 stones ; the brilliant pennon is easily followed by the eye of the 

 observer ; and different ants are distinguished by the different 

 colors that they carry. This device enables the observer to 

 track ants through long distances and to ascertain whether those 

 discovered at a common rendezvous belong to one or to diverse 

 communities. 



New York City, 

 April, 1907. 



