726 REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 
nest. Indeed, it would be difficult for them to do so, as their 
abdomens are so swollen by the honey they contain as to render 
locomotion a task of difficulty, if not to make it utterly impos- 
sible. 
The workers (No. 1) provide them with a constant supply of 
flowers and pollen, which, by a process analogous to that of the 
bee, they convert into honey. That the remainder of the inhabi- 
tants feed on the supply thus obtained, though it is surmised, 
has not been established by actual observation; indeed, with 
reference to many of the habits of these creatures, we are in 
present left in total ignorance, it being a reasonable supposi- 
tion that, in insects so remarkable in many of their habits, other 
interesting facts are yet to be brought to light respecting them. It 
would be of great value to learn the specific rank of the black 
workers (No. 3), and to know the sexes of the species forming the 
community, their season and manner of pairing, and whether the 
honey-makers are themselves used as food,.or if they excrete their 
saccharine fluid for the benefit of the inhabitants in general, and 
then proceed to distil more.’ I regret that at this time I am only 
able to bring before the notice of the Academy, specimens of the 
honey-makers (No. 2), the other members of the community, ex- 
cept from Captain Fleeson’s description, being quite unknown to 
me. It is, however, my hope that at a future meeting I may be 
enabled to exhibit the other varieties, and to give some more ex- 
tended information upon this very interesting subject. `The honey 
is much sought after by the Mexicans, who not only use it as a 
delicate article of food, but apply it to bruised and swollen limbs, 
ascribing to it great healing properties. The species is said to be 
very abundant in the neighborhood of Sante Fé, New Mexico, in 
which district the observations of Capt. Fleeson were made. 
REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 
Tue Scenery or THE Rocky MOUNTAINS AND ITS ORIGIN.— 
Professor Hayden’s last report* on the geology of the territories - 
* Sixth Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey of the Territories, 
embraci ns of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah; being a nt of prog- - 
ress of the neiaa for the year 1872. F. V. Hayden, U. S. Geologist. Washington, 
1873. With and woodi pp. 8i. 
