SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ON ANTS, BEES, AND WASPS. 



121 



rufescens, Formica san guinea, F. pre^silahris, F. fusca, F. ruji- 

 harhis, F. rufa, F. exsecta, Lasius niger, and Tapinoma erraiicum, 

 appears to agree in its habits with Dinarda, and to devour dead 

 and wounded ants, as also do the Myrmedoniae. 



Dr. Wasmann confirms entirely my observations, in opposition 

 to the statements of Lespes, that while ants are deadly enemies 

 to those of other nests, even of the same species, the domestic 

 animals, on the contrary, may be transferred from one nest to 

 another and are not attacked. 



He justly observes that, no doubt, many interesting dis- 

 coveries are in store for us as to the relations between ants and 

 their guests. The marvellous and grotesque antennae of the 

 Paussidae will doubtless, one of these days, tell a wonderful story 

 to some patient and fortunate observer. 



Mimicry among Ants. 



Prof. C. Emery has published in the Bull, della Soc. Ent. 

 Italiana, 1886, a short, but interesting note on the habits of 

 Camponotus lateralis. Of this species there are two varieties : 

 one black, like its nearest allies ; the other red, with the abdomen 

 and part of the thorax black. They live in small colonies, and 

 make expeditions up trees to collect honey-dew from the Aphides. 

 The black type (0. foveolatus, Mayr, C. eheninus, Emery) some- 

 times goes in troops, but generally a few join the troops of other 

 bla'-k ants, such as For. idea gagates and Camponotus ottliiops. 

 Prof. Einery suggests that, their numbers being small and their 

 sight not very good, they find it convenient to accompany other 

 ants which live in larger communities, and that they perhaps 

 escape detection from the similarity of colour. 



This suggestion derives some support from the fact that the 

 red variety accompanies in a similar maimer the troops of 

 Gy^emastogaster scutellaris, which is red and black, and at first 

 sight curiously like the red variety of C. lateralis. Cremasto- 

 gaster scutellaris lives in immense communities among the pine 

 woods along the shores of the Meditei-ranean, and is, as I know 

 to my cost, a very pugnacious species. Prof. Emery suggests 

 that the black form of C. lateralis is the original type, resem- 

 bling as it does its nearest congeners ; and that the red variety 

 has the advantage, from its similarity to Cremaslogaster scutel- 

 laris, of using that species as its guide and of sharing, undetected, 

 in the produce of its flocks and herds. Prof Emery observes 



