SWARMING OF THE WHITE ANTS 123 
to the species, or it would not take place. If all the 
winged forms composing the flight were devoured by 
enemies, there could be no object in the swarming. 
Philanthropy is a virtue unknown in nature. The 
universal practice among the lower animals is, Every 
species for itself, and the devil take the hindermost. 
Each species lives for itself and solely for itself. I find 
it impossible to believe that every year millions of 
termites take to themselves wings merely in order that 
the insectivorous birds and the lizards may over-eat 
themselves. These considerations alone seem sufficient 
to disprove the assertions of Grassi and Muller. 
Not a few naturalists think that some of the in- 
dividuals which compose the swarms return to the 
nests from which they emerged, or go to other nests, 
there to be received as kings and queens. This theory 
is very possibly correct, although it is not supported 
by any direct evidence. Indeed, there is the objection 
that in every colony of termites a few individuals are 
found which are known as reserve queens, individuals 
which, if suitably fed by the workers, will develop into 
queens. But it is obvious that such potential royalties 
cannot be produced indefinitely without the infusion 
of fresh blood into the colony. 
It has further been suggested that these winged 
forms, although so helpless, may possibly contain 
stored up within them sufficient nutriment to keep 
them alive until some of the eggs they lay develop 
into workers, These, directly they are hatched, will 
feed and look after the royal pair. In support of this 
hypothesis we have the experiments of Professor Perez, 
