72 WAYS OF THE SIX-FOOTED 



Division of labor is carried to extremes among tire 

 honey-ants. In this species there is a caste whose 

 business it is to form reservoirs for the storing of food. 

 The storage individuals receive all the honey which the 

 workers bring in. The crop becomes much enlarged, 

 until it distends the entire abdomen. One of these little 

 honey vats looks like a large currant, with head, thorax, 

 and legs attached to one side. These very accom- 

 modating citizens hang to the roofs of the galleries of 

 the nests, and during seasons of famine give up to their 

 hungry sisters their surplus honey. 



The detailing of certain duties to certain individuals 

 has been alluded to in the discussion of the use of young 

 citizens as nurses. Among the leaf-cutter ants of Texas 

 the citizens work in gangs or relays. Certain indi- 

 viduals climb the trees and cut off the leaves, which 

 drop to the ground ; there they are gathered up by other 

 individuals, who carry them to the nest. Mr. McCook 

 reports seeing three divisions thus at work in one ant's 

 nest. He has evidence also that in some species the 

 ants work in divisions while excavating their under- 

 ground tunnels. This shows that they have a compre- 

 hension of the value of economy in labor. 



The driver ants of Africa form living bridges and 

 ladders through individuals clinging to each other until 

 the rope is long enough to reach the desired point. 



