1896.] Zoology. 497 



their young, and must in consequence bear the term myrmecophagoua. 

 Then there are nematode internal and acarid external parasites. Then 

 there are forms, that like the isopod Platyarthrus hoffmanseggi of Eu- 

 rope, flourish in and upon the detritus of the hills without molesting or 

 being molested by the ants, a mode of life denominated synseketic. 



Lastly, come the lepismids, living what Janet calls a myrmecocteptic 

 life. Notwithstanding the name, the relation of the lepismids as told 

 and illustrated by the above named writer is peculiar, and withal 

 rather interesting. His experiments were performed with Lrj,is?nina 

 poli/poda Grassi, captured along with a colony of Lasiu* uitibrntus Xyl. 



Some twenty-one of the lepismids were separated from the ants, and 

 fed upon a mixture of honey, sugar, flour, and yolk of egg. At the 

 end of two years and six months only nine remained in good condition. 

 These willingly eat the drops of i 



points of fine pincers. Those left and reared along with the ants were 

 much more active than the separated lot, running incessantly among 

 the ants, always seeming to avoid remaining quiet in their presence. 

 Sometimes they were pursued, but owing to their superior agility were 

 able to escape. In the conditions of the artificial nest, however, where 

 places of safety were doubtless fewer than under natural conditions, 

 they were often captured. Two days after the beginning of the experi- 

 ment five Lepismid cadavers were noted. In order to save the rest the 

 colony was given a new nest, where certain places would be less fre- 

 quented by the ants. These the Lepismids found, and in them remained 

 quiet; but as soon as a single ant made its appearance, they scampered 

 precipitously away. 



When the ants were fed with their customary supply of small drops 

 of honey, the Lepismids, by their agitation, manifested that they, had 

 become aware of the proximity of very desirable food. Meanwhile, 

 the ants that had discovered it,£orged themselves to fulness. Then, 

 returning to the neighborhood of their companions, who had not found 



