382 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [DECEMBER 
ible to the attacks of phytophagous insects than are the adult 
individuals, 
In defending the theory of myrmecophily, ScHimpeR placed 
great emphasis upon the discovery, in the Corcovado near Rio de 
Janeiro, of a species of Cecropia which is devoid not only of ants, 
but also of prostomata and Miillerian food bodies. He inferred 
that this Cecropia possesses no adaptations for attracting a defend- 
ing army of Aztecas, because it is protected by a waxy coating which 
prevents the leaf cutting ants from climbing its stems. Cecropia 
sciadophylla Mart. var. decurrens Snethlage is not colonized by 
Aztecas, but, as will be shown later, is provided with conspicuous 
and highly differentiated prostomata. The external surfaces of the 
plant are scabrous and afford a firm foothold for ants, as evidenced 
by the fact that several species of these insects were seen climbing 
its stems and branches. This species of Cecropia is no more subject 
to defoliation by Attas than is Cecropia angulata. That the leaves 
may be utilized in the construction of fungus gardens is shown by 
the fact that, when cuttings from plants of various ages are placed 
near nests of Aita cephalotes, the ants frequently transport a portion 
of the foliage into their subterranean dwellings. 
SCHIMPER’S critics place considerable emphasis upon the fact 
that the myrmecophytic Cecropias may be inhabited simultaneously 
by two or more distinct genera of ants. To infer from this, however, 
that the Aztecas are indifferent to the presence of other ants is 
somewhat misleading. Although species of Cecropia were found 
that were inhabited by Crypiocerus, Crematogaster, stingless bees, 
etc., these insects were always confined to the older and lower 
internodes, which had been abandoned by the Aztecas. In spite 
of this marked segregation of the colonies in different levels of the 
stem, fierce conflicts may be waged for possession of the intervening 
internodes. Thus, the internodal cavities, where the colonies come 
in contact, frequently are filled with the corpses of dead warriors. 
The Aztecas are dominant, and in general do not tolerate the 
presence of other ants, in those portions of the stems and branches 
which are provided with leaves and food bodies. ScutmpER found 
that when leaf cutting ants were deposited upon the terminal por- 
tions of a Cecropia, they were quickly seized by the Aztecas, if. 
