CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I 



INTRODUCTION. 



Position of ants in the Animal Kingdom — Ants divided into 

 three families — Number of species — Mode of observation — 

 Nests — Mode of marking ants — Stages in life of ants — Egg, 

 larva, piipa, imago — Length of life — Structure of ants — 

 Head, thorax, abdomen, antenuEe, eyes, ocelli, mouth parts, 

 legs, wings, sting — Origin of the sting — Character of ants — 

 Wars among ants — Modes of fighting — Queen ants— Workers 

 — Different classes of workers — The honey ant — Soldiers — 

 Origin of the soldiers — Division of labour — Habitations of 

 ants — Communities of ants — Food — Eneraifs — Character — 

 Industry — Games — Cleanliness . . . .1 



CHAPTER n. 



FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE OF NESTS. 



f jundation of new nests — Doubts on the subject — ^Views of 

 Huber, Blanchard, Forel, St. Fargeau, Ebrard — Esperimenta 

 with queens- Foundation of a nest of Myrmiea by two 

 queens — Adoption of queens — Fertility of workers — Eggs 

 laid by fertile workers always produce males — Queens seldom 

 produced in captivity — Origin of difEerenoe between queeni 

 and workers — Longevity of ants — Arrangement of chambers 

 in a nest— Division of labour — The honey ant . 90 



