38 EGGS LAID BY FERTILE WORKERS 
Again, in a nest of Formica fusca, taken in 1875, 
though in 1876 and 1877 eggs were laid and a few 
arrived at the pupa-state, none came to maturity. 
They were all, however, either males or queens, and, ] 
have little doubt, were males. In 1878 one came te 
maturity, and it was a male. 
A nest of F. fusca, captured in 1876, did not bring 
up any young in 1877. In 1878 three larve came to 
maturity; and they all proved to be males. Another 
nest of F. fusca, captured in 1877, in 1878 brought 
only one young one to maturity. This was a male. 
In the following year, I again carefully watched my 
nests, to see what further light they would throw on 
the subject. 
In six of those which contained no queen, eggs 
were produced, which of course must necessarily have 
been laid by workers. 
The first of these, the nest of Lasius niger, 
which I have watched since July 1875, and which, 
therefore, is interesting from the great age of the 
workers, about ten larvae were hatched, but only four 
reached the pupa state. Of these one disappeared; 
the other three I secured, and on examination they all 
proved to be males. The nest ef Lasius niger, which 
‘has been under observation since November 1875, pro- 
duced about ten pupe. Of these I examined seven, all 
of which I found to be males. The others escaped me. 
I believe that, having died, they were brought out and 
thrown away. 
