Note 5 — CHAP. III. OF THE FECUNDATION, &C. OF ANTS.

“Upon frequent opening of mole-hills,” says Gould, “amongst them, I met with three, in each of which was a cluster of large female ants, amounting to six or seven in a cluster. They lay near the surface, but had no regular apartment. Upon examining, and comparing them with a queen, there was an exact agreement in colour, form, and structure. Upon dissection, several of them had parcels of eggs in their insides. I deposited one of the clusters in a box with some earth, under which they concealed themselves, and united together, but did not work any lodgement. Some time after, three or four of these females laid a few eggs, but did not seem to take any great notice of them. For curiosity, I placed in the box a cell of workers of the same species; and it was surprising to observe what fondness was expressed. The common ants immediately surrounded the females, took care of the eggs, and, in a short period, made an apartment in the earth fit to receive them. It may also be observed that there were no common ants in the hills where I found the above clusters. In all probability they were originally large ant-flies, which, having been expelled their colonies, and not falling victims to their adversaries, associated together in this manner, and survived the winter.”—There is no doubt but these mole-hills were fixed upon by the females for the establishment of new colonies; and from their consisting of loose earth, and presenting several cavities, the labour of these insects in constructing a dwelling must be considerably lessened. It is highly probable, they had lately arrived there, and, therefore, had no time to commence their architectural operations, it being remarked they had no regular apartment. It would seem, by the above statement, that the females go in small parties to found new colonies, as well as singly; which must have happened with the female which fell under the notice of M. Perrot. The female which this gentleman saw, was engaged in tending her young. This certainly appears, on a first view, at variance with Gould’s remark, that the females which laid eggs “did not seem to take any great notice of them.” But it must be recollected, that the females were not placed under similar circumstances: the former having been discovered with her young in her own residence; the latter having produced their eggs in confinement, and doubtless fully conscious of it.—T.