810 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VOL. XXXIII, 
in a corked vial, and had all collapsed by the next day. The 
second lot were placed in an open vial, which was left on the 
ground for a little while, and the ants carried off all the speci- 
mens. A third lot in open vials retained their shape in some 
degree, but were all more or less 
shriveled. One placed in alcohol 
immediately dissolved. 
The purpose of this structure is 
to attract the female. When nu- 
merous males were flying up and 
down the road, it happened several 
times that a female was seen to 
approach them from some choke- 
cherry blossoms near by. The 
males immediately gathered in her 
path, and she with little hesitation selected for a mate the one 
with the largest balloon, taking a position upon his back. After. 
copulation had begun, the pair would settle down towards the 
ground, select a quiet spot, and the female would alight by 
placing her front legs 
across a horizontal 
grass blade, her head ? 
resting against the , Vy oa 
blade so as to brace ay A > 
the body in position. Mj PZ as 
Here she would con- “/ ERKA NEAS 
tinue to hold the male 
beneath her for a little / 
time, until the process 
was finished. The 
male, meanwhile, 
would be rolling the 
balloon about in a va- 
riety of positions, jug- 
gling with it, one might almost say. After the male and female 
parted company, the male immediately dropped the balloon 
upon the ground, and it was greedily seized by ants. 
Of the accompanying sketches, Fig. 1 shows the position of 
Fic. 1. 
Yad 
Fic. 2. 
