Note 7 — CHAP. III. OF THE FECUNDATION, &C. OF ANTS.

De Geer observed in a nest of Red Ants that the workers compelled some females, that were come out of the nest, to re-enter it. I visited twice or thrice a day, for some time, a colony of Red Ants, and never observed any male or female in it. The workers were engaged in taking care of the pupæ, which were in considerable number. What was my surprise, to observe, at length, a mass of eggs apparently just laid, which the workers, on my disturbing their abode, carried off with amazing expedition. It does not seem likely that any female, after her excursion in the air, should have alighted on their dwelling, since they generally go and found new colonies. It is more probable this was one of the females born in the nest, and, at the time of the males and females taking their departure, had been retained by the workers, in one of the lower apartments, for the sake of maintaining its population.—T.