ON TURNERA ULMIFOLIA. 
119 
roll into crevices and so escape further notice on the part of 
the ants. Moreover, it appears that the seeds carried into the 
nest are not harmed ; but the aril only is devoured, whilst in 
some cases certainly the seed, minus the aril, is actually cast 
out of the nest. 
The experiment was made of separating the seeds from 
the arils and putting both in the way of the ants (Phidole). 
Both seeds and arils were in this case carried into the nest, 
though the arils appeared to be somewhat the more attractive. 
This, however, may have been simply because they were more 
convenient to hold. It may seem strange at first sight that 
the seeds without arils should be carried into the nest, if the 
latter only are used as food. Yet it would argue a high degree 
of reason in the ants if they were to discriminate between 
the two, since doubtless traces of whatever was attractive in 
the aril—whether “ taste ” or “ smell ”—would linger about 
the seed. 
In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to Mr. E. E. 
Green, who very kindly determined the names of all the 
insects mentioned in the preceding pages. Also to the 
Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to whom I am 
indebted for the name of the variety of Turnera ulmifolia 
which is the subject of these notes. 
December 3, 1903. 
