NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
225 
one of them partly to overlap the other, so that the greater part of the illumined 
space is occupied by a sort of half light,* allowing only a small speck of the 
highest degree of brilliance to be seen. 
The exquisite beauty of autumn leaves revealed in this manner will, I believe, 
be a surprise to many, and those who think it worth while to follow carefully 
the very simple directions given above will, I think, agree that the experiment 
is worth trying. 
Blaxhall, Suffolk. G. T. Rope. 
580 . Ant Colonies. — In No. 569 Mr. Daubeny raises the question of the 
founding of ant colonies. It most certainly is a very perplexing problem and 
one which deserves the attention of the best observers. 
There are three general methods of founding a colony: (i) A young queen 
may join an already formed nest ; or (2) may collect a few workers and start 
a new nest ; or (3) may found a nest by herself. 
By actual experiment all three modes are possible, but as far as actual 
observations, out-of-doors, are concerned I should give the palm to No. 2. 
Many a time I have watched young queens in September wandering about, with 
or without their wings, until they happen to meet a stray worker of the same 
species, who immediately tuns off for two or three of his friends, and on their 
return — after a great deal of fuss and excitement— a move is made to find a 
suitable locality for the new nest. 
It would give me great pleasure to hear from any of the members who are 
interested in this question. 
16, Manor Drive, O. C. SiLVERLOCK. 
Halifax, } ’orks. 
581 . Swarming of Ants. — Mr. C. Nicholson has fallen into an error as 
to the meaning of my remarks on the above subject. The most superficial 
observer could scarcely .suppose that ants swarm after the same manner as bees. 
The word “ swarming ” as employed by me was merely intended to apply to the 
great number and activity of the ants outside of the nest, both of the winged 
and wingless members of the community, on the days selected for flight by the 
former. 
I have not always recorded the particular dates on which the swarming 
or flight of ants occurred in recent years, but the following is a short, imperfect 
list : — 
18S9, July 29. 
1890, August 18. 
1892, August 16 and 17. 
1895, August 15. 
1901, August 9. 
1902, August 15. 
1903, August 8. 
1906, .August 6 and 7. 
1907, August 28. 
W. F. D. 
582 . Late Appearances. — The appearance of the Brimstone Butterfly 
in late September (p. 216), while noteworthy, is not, I think, very unusual, 
seeing that this butterfly, in common with some others, passes the winter in the 
perfect state. It emerges from the chrysalis in late July, and may live until the 
following June, so that a mild spell of weather at any time between those 
dates is liable to be brightened by its temporary appearance from its place of 
hibernation. 
Hale End, Chingford. C. Nicholson, B.E.N.A. 
583 . Convolvulus. — Has not Harriet G. Olive made a slip in calling the 
plants referred to on p. 216 Convolmilus major, which is not a British wild plant, 
not is it a perennial. The plant she means is undoubtedly Convolvulus sepium 
(Great Bindweed), although I cannot call to mind ever seeing any previous record 
of its flowers being anything but pure white. The plant incorrectly called Con- 
volvulus major by florists and others is an annual from Tropical America and its 
proper name is Ipomcea purpurea. 
Hale End, Chingford. C. Nicholson. 
Occasioned by the rays passing through a double thickness of leaf. 
