78 
OBSERVATIONS ON ANTS. 
have been confirmed by Mr. H. Donisthorpe, of London, to whom 
I am much indebted. 
The largest British Ant (Formica sanguinea), I have not yet 
found. It is an extremely interesting species on account of its 
slave-making habits. 
Having developed to such an extent the art of raiding other 
nests and thieving cocoons, these Ants have so degenerated that 
now they are unable to rear their own larvae, and hardly ever feed 
themselves. Their slaves are all of one species — Formica fusca. 
The method of attack is as follows : — 
During the day the workers of sanguinea roam about outside 
their nest for quite a considerable distance. During these rambles 
one or more of the Ants discover a nest of F. fusca. This news is 
communicated to their fellows (or really sisters) and generally, 
between the hours of four and six p.m. a strong detachment of 
sanguinea approach the nest of fusca. 
A fierce fight ensues but the sanguinea are always victorious. 
While some are fighting, others are carrying cocoons back to their 
nest. (It is remarkable that only £ cocoons are taken). This 
struggle continues until all the cocoons are carried to the san- 
guinea nest. The Ants hatching from these cocoons, as if quite 
naturally, spend their lives looking after their masters. Another 
species with which I have made personal acquaintance is Formica 
rufa — the wood or horse Ant. In size it is nearly as large as 
sanguinea. The nest, which is composed of a huge pile of small 
sticks, grass stems, and pine needles, is generally situated in a 
pine or fir wood. 
On Stinchcombe Hill, near Dursley, are to be seen several nests. 
One nest in particular I have observed for several years. It is 
situated a couple of feet off the main path through the wood. 
The nest is about two and a half feet high and about two yards 
across at the base. In 191 2, on a very hot day in July, I inspected 
this nest. It was a wonderful sight — the mound being covered 
with one mass of Ants. Leading from the nest to the path was a 
well-worn trail, and Ants were pouring in thousands, backwards 
and forwards, to and from the nest. While watching, I saw 
numerous larvse (Hybernia brumata), cockchafers' wings, beetles, 
flies, and a host of small insects being carried to the nest. Everyone 
was in a desperate hurry. All around the nest for thirty yards, 
Ants could be seen on every bush and tree — many milking 
aphides. I disturbed the nest with a trowel, and took a tin box 
full of ants, sticks and all. Inside the mound I found the stump 
of a tree, which was completely honeycombed. In the depressions 
in the galleries were large quantities of cocoons. 
That day I caught several d* cT and 9 9 with wings, and also I 
discovered that there were ten proper queens in the tin box which 
I had scooped up. It is rather remarkable that so many 
