132 
IIYMENOPTERA. 
from all other hymenopterous insects, by tlie formation 
of the first or first and second joint of the abdomen, 
the stalk by which the abdomen is attached to the 
thorax; in some families the first joint grows out into 
a raised kind of scale ; in the Myrmecidre the first and 
second joints are similarly formed. The females of the 
Social Ants retain their wings only for a time ; after 
associating in the air and sunshine the males die, and 
the females descending to the earth, prepare for under¬ 
ground work, by stripping or biting off their wings ; 
they then enter the chambers prepared by the neuters 
and lay their eggs. The tenderness and anxiety mani¬ 
fested by the ants towards the young are wonderful, and 
must have been witnessed by any one who has ever con¬ 
sciously or unconsciously disturbed an Ants’ nest. How 
full of commotion is the busy scene, as the little 
creatures hurry off with the large white pupa), larger 
than themselves ! But besides the neuters and females, 
other occupants are found within Ants’ nests, amongst 
them the Aphides, which are kept prisoners by the 
Ants, who are fond of the sweet fluid secreted by these 
Plant-lice. Beetles are also found in Ants’ nests ; only 
yesterday I found three large ground Beetles quietly 
ensconced in an Ant’s nest, but whether they were there- 
as voluntary guests or detained prisoners I cannot say. 
After the eggs are laid by the females they are watched 
with great care by the neuters, who, according to the 
observations of the Swiss Naturalist Huber, daily 
remove them to different parts of the nest where the 
temperature is most suitable; after the eggs are hatched 
the larva; receive the most constant attention from the 
neuters, who feed them with honey-dew and other sweet 
