RAIDS OF THE AMAZON ANTS 19 
It will be borne in mind that, apart from the repro- 
ductive “queens,” the actively militarist creatures 
we are concerned with here are all non-reproductive 
females, the so-called “ workers.” 
A notable step was taken by Emery in 1908 and 
1909—namely, the starting of an experimental 
nest. He introduced a fertilized queen Amazon 
into one of M. Charles Janet’s formicaria which 
was inhabited by a colony of Brown Ants. One of 
the first events was that the Amazon queen slew 
the Brown queen, and was enthroned in her stead. 
In the course of two years—we must omit the 
details—Professor Emery had a flourishing colony, 
consisting of Amazons who had never been outside 
the walls and a serviceable number of Brown slaves. 
The importance of the experiment is evidently that 
it shows how a mixed colony of Amazons and 
auxiliaries may arise. In the early days of the 
colony in question the slaves treated the Amazons 
as if they were pets; they would not let them 
even take an airing in the illumined part of the 
formicarium, and if one escaped it was quickly 
brought indoors again. By and by, however, 
the Amazons became more numerous and fidgety 
(‘‘remuantes ”’), and one after another set out on 
scouting expeditions. When we remember that 
they were exploring a new world we cannot 
but be amazed that a solitary scout, discovering 
a nest of Brown Ants, should forthwith enter, 
attack the crowd of workers, seize a cocoon, and 
carry it home. Instinct must have its way. 
