The leaf-cutting ants (QEcodoma) are noted pests of central and tropical America 

 and commit fearful havoc among trees, laboriously 

 and persistently carrying off in their mouths, piece 

 by piece, the foliage of trees and shrubs. The orange, 

 lemon and mango trees, in particular, suffer from 

 their attacks. Central America is also the home of 

 a gigantic black ant, about one inch in length, and 

 armed with a formidable sting. These ants are 

 notable for their solitary habits, and represent, in 

 their family, the solitary wasps among the Vespiche. 

 .Fig. 14 represents (Ecodoma cephalotes, worker ; and 

 Fig. 15, worker Major. 



There is a remarkable species of ant found in 

 Mexico, in which certain individuals in each nest 

 serve as animated honey -jars, Myrmecocystus Mexi- 

 -canus. (See Fig. 16.) To them the foragers bring 

 their supplies, and their whole duty seems to be to 

 receive the honey, retain it, and re-distribute it for 

 food when required. The abdomen of these ants 

 becomes enormously distended ; the intersegmental 

 membranes being so much stretched, that the chitin- 

 ous segments, which alone are visible in ordinary ants, seem like small brown transverse 

 bars. These individuals never leave the nest. A similar habit prevails in an Australian 

 species, Camponottis infiatus, which is shown in Fig. 17. 



The slave-making propensity has been carefully studied in some European species, 

 and much interesting information regarding it placed on record. Huber was the first 



Fig. 16. 



Myrmecocystus Mexicarms, Honey Ant of 

 Mexico. (Rev. J. G. Wood.) 



Fig. 17. 



Fig. 18. 



Camponotus inflatus, (Lub- 

 bock, j Honey Ant of 

 Australia (magnified 

 twice). 



1. Formica sanguinea, worker. 2. Polyergus rufct 



cens, worker. Both slave-making species, 



Europe. (From Lubbock.) 



observer who discovered the existence of 'slavery among ants. There are several species 

 which have the habit, some in a stronger degree than others ; and it is singular that the 

 institution has had a most degrading effect on those which seem most addicted to it. 

 Formica sanguinea, (see Fig. 18,) found in the southern counties of England and 

 throughout the Continent, is a species with which the habit has become established. They 

 make periodical expeditions, attack neighbouring nests, and carry off the pupa\ When 

 the latter come to maturity, they find themselves in a nest consisting partly of F. 

 sanguinea and partly of their own species, the result of previous expeditions. The}' adapt 

 themselves to circumstances, assist in the ordinary household duties, and, having no 

 young of their own species, feed and tend those of the sanguineas. But though the 

 sanguineas are thus aided by their slaves, or, as they should rather perhaps be called,' 



J 



