POLYERGUS FED BY THE SLAVES. 83 
they appeared to pay some little attention to the 
larvee; they carried them here and there, but presently 
replaced them. More than one-half of the Amazons 
died of hunger in less than two days. They had not 
even traced out a dwelling, and the few ants still in 
existence were languid and without strength. I com- 
miserated their condition, and gave them one of their 
black companions. This individual, unassisted, estab- 
lished order, formed a chamber in the earth, gathered 
together the larva, extricated several young ants that 
were ready to quit the condition of pupz, and preserved 
the life of the remaining Amazons.’ 
This observation has been fully confirmed by other 
naturalists. However small the prison, however large 
the quantity of food, these stupid creatures will starve 
in the midst of plenty rather than feed themselves, 
M. Forel was kind enough to send me a nest of 
Polyergus, and I kept it under observation for more 
than four years. My specimens of Polyergus certainly 
never fed themselves, and when the community changed 
its nest, which they did several times, the mistresses 
were carried from the one to the other by the slaves. 
I was even able to observe one of their marauding ex- 
peditions, in which, however, the slaves took a part. 
I do not doubt that, as Huber tells us, specimens of 
Polyergus if kept by themselves in a box would soon 
die of starvation, even if supplied with food. I have, 
however, kept isolated specimens for three months by 
giving them a slave for an hour or two a day to clean 
