erfect insect. The eggs are small, ovate, yellowish white objects,
which hatch in about fifteen to thirty days. The larvae are small
legless grubs, quite large at the apex of the abdomen and tapering
toward the head. Both eggs and pupa are incessantly watched and
tended, licked and fed, and carried to a place of safety in time of
danger. The larvae are ingeniously sorted as regards age and size, and
are never mixed. The larvae period generally extends through a month,
although often much longer, and in most species when the larvae pass
into pupae they spin a cocoon of white or straw color, looking much
like a shining pebble. Other larvae do not spin a cocoon, but spend the
pupal state naked. When they mature they are carefully assisted from
their shells by the workers, which also assist in unfolding and
smoothing out the legs. The whole life of the formicary centers upon
the young, which proves they have reached a degree of civilization
unknown even in some forms of higher life.

It is curious that, notwithstanding the labor of so many excellent
observers, and though ants swarm in every field and wood, we should
find so much difficulty in the history of these insects, and that so
much obscurity should rest upon some of their habits. Forel and
Ebrard, after repeated observations, maintain that in no single
instance has an isolated female been known to bring her young to
maturity. This is in direct contradiction to Lubbock's theory, who
repeatedly tried introducing a new fertile queen into another nest of
_Lasius flavus_, and always with the result that the workers became
very excited and killed her, even though in one case the nest was
without a queen. Of the other kinds, he isolated two pairs of _Myrmica
ruginodis_, and, though the males died, the queens lived and brought
their offspring to perfection; and nearly a year after their
captivity, Sir John Lubbock watched the first young workers carrying
the larvae about, thereby proving the accuracy of Huber's statement,
with some species at least. In spite of this convincing testimony,
Lepeletier St. Fargeau is of the opinion that the nests originate with
a solitary queen, as was first given.

The ants indigenous to Leadville, besides feeding on small flies,
insects, and caterpillars--the carcasses of which they may be seen
dragging to their nests--show the greatest avidity for sweet liquids.
They are capable of absorbing large quantities, which they disgorge
into the mo