Note.—In a note on p. 99 we have mentioned the new publication of Mr. and Mrs. Peckham on the habits of Fossores. We may here add that it contains much fresh information on these Insects, together with criticisms of the views of Fabre and others. One of the points most noteworthy is that they have observed _Crabro stirpicola_ working night and day for a period of forty-two consecutive hours. They made experiments on _Bembex spinolae_ with a view of ascertaining whether the female provisions two nests simultaneously; as the result they think this improbable. If the female Bembecid make nests only consecutively, it is clear it must have but a small fecundity. The larval life extends over about fifteen days; and if we allow three months as the duration of life of a female, it is evident that only about six young can be produced in a season. {131}CHAPTER IV HYMENOPTERA ACULEATA _CONTINUED_—DIVISION IV. FORMICIDAE OR ANTS DIVISION IV. HETEROGYNA OR FORMICIDAE—ANTS. _The segment, or the two segments, behind the propodeum, either small or of irregular form, so that if not throughout of small diameter, the articulation with the segment behind is slender, and there is great mobility. The trochanters undivided. The individuals of each species are usually of three kinds, males, females and workers; the latter have no wings, but the males and females are usually winged, though the females soon lose the flying organs. They live in communities of various numbers, the majority being workers. The larvae are helpless maggots fed and tended by the workers or by the female._ [Illustration: Fig. 53—Abdomens of ants. A, Of _Camponotus rubripes_ (Formicides); B, of _Ectatomma auratum_ (Ponerides); C, of _Aphaenogaster barbara_ (Myrmicides). _a_, Propodeum; _b_, first abdominal segment forming a scale or node; _c_, second; _d_, third abdominal segment.] In ants the distinction between the three great regions of the body is very marked. The abdomen is connected with the propodeum in a peculiar manner, one or two segments being detached from the main mass to form a very mobile articulation. This is the most distinctive of the characters of ants. The structure and form of these parts varies {132}greatly in the family: and the Amblyoponides do not differ in a marked manner from the Scoliidae in fossorial Hymenoptera. [Illustration: Fig. 54—Front of head of _Dinoponera grandis_. A, Mouth closed; B, open.]