[81] Compare Romanes, Animal Intelligence, p. 111 et seq. At the time when these details were written in my note-book I was unacquainted with Captain Fleeson's and Mr. Edwards's observations, nor had I read Romanes's work on Animal Intelligence. I had heard of Myrmecocystus, of course, but knew nothing of its natural history. Comparison will show that my observations differ from those of the gentlemen mentioned above. I saw nothing whatever of the web described by Captain Fleeson: the honey-making solitaires were simply confined in cells, where they rested on the bare ground; they were not perched upon "a network of squares, like a spider's web." The "outside" workers observed by me were not black, but very dark yellow, while the "inside" workers were bright yellow in color.—W.
[82] Compare Kirby and Spence, Entomology.
[83] It is often the case that animals find themselves amid surroundings in which they are required to evince original ideation and fail so to do. But, is man any different? How often do we find ourselves checkmated and puzzled by trivial circumstances, which, on being explained, are seen to be exceedingly simple!—W.
[84] I believe that these observations on the presence of the harvester ant in Arkansas are unique; at least I have been unable to find any data corroborative of this fact. How did a fecundated queen arrive at a spot so far from her usual habitat?—W.
[85] As a matter of fact I have kept Argiope under observation in this anæsthetized condition for thirteen weeks.—W.
[86] Compare Kirby and Spence, Entomology, pp. 231, 232, habits of Epipone spinipes in regard to small grubs.
[87] Karl Becker, Esq., St. Louis, Mo.
[88] These data were given to me at a certain club banquet where I had no facilities for noting them down. I have endeavored to locate the superintendent in question, but without success; I believe, however, that he gave the facts just as they occurred.—W.
[89] Romanes, Mental Evolution in Man, p. 369; Darwin, Descent of Man, p. 87; Whitney, Enc. Brit., "Philology," Vol. XVIII. p. 769, quoted by Romanes, super.
[90] Huber, Vol. II. p. 230; quoted also by Kirby and Spence, loc. cit. ante, p. 582.