Insect*. 3769 



Note on " Robber Bees" — Mr. Cambridge's communication " On 

 the Phenomenon denominated 'Robber Bees'" (Zool. 3746), may 

 probably receive some confirmation from Dr. Bevan's account of the 

 wax-moth (Tinea mellotiella), whose depredations appear similar to 

 those of the honey-moth, \Achroia alvearia) ; and I would beg to re- 

 fer him to Dr. Bevan's admirable work on the ' Honey Bee,' chapter 

 21, on " Enemies of Bees."— jR. Wakefield ; Sussex Place, Regent's 

 Park, January 11, 1853. 



Notice of the Habits of My r mica domestica, Shuck., toy ether with 

 some Account of a means of turning the Industry of this mi- 

 nute Ant to account in the preparation of Skeletons of small 

 Animals. By George Daniell, Esq.* 



Mr. Daniell states that his attention was first attracted to this spe- 

 cies of ant some years ago, by observing several individuals engaged, 

 in the window of a house in Edwards Street, Portman Square, in 

 dragging to the edge of the casement a large fly, which they finally 

 succeeded in conveying through an opening in the wall. He found 

 by repeated observations that, like the other species of ants, they uni- 

 formly followed the same track, passing and repassing, but never de- 

 viating from the beaten route. There appeared to be a regular chain 

 of correspondence kept up throughout the track; and one of the ants, 

 while travelling at its usual rapid rate, was frequently observed to be 

 stopped by another, a communication passing between them by means 

 of their antennae, after which each would return in the opposite direc- 

 tion from that in which they were previously travelling. The track 

 was found to terminate on the ground floor, where it disappeared in 

 the party wall, the adjoining house being occupied by a baker, who 

 stated that in the summer months these ants were a perfect nuisance 

 to him, spreading themselves over all his goods, and especially the 

 sweet cakes and sugar, of which they carried off incredible quantities. 

 He indicated on his premises numerous tracks, traversed by myriads 

 of these minute insects, each engaged in carrying off a grain of sugar 

 or some other description of food to their dwelling-place, which ap- 

 peared to be in the wall of the cellar, by the side of the oven, whence 



* From the ' Proceedings of the Linnean Society,' March 16, 1852. 

 XT. H 



