The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. [Note on Formica rufa.] CUL-DAR48.A37. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 9.2021. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR48 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 8 'Transitions of Organs'. Notes on bees' cells for origin of species theory.

[A37]

In F. rufa the largest workers are rather more than twice as long as the smaller ones: I arranged a set making a perfect gradation between the largest & smallest. - I am inclined to think that a larger proportion of the smaller ants stay at home & work on the nest.

In F. sanguinea in worker 1/2 size of other its antennæ were 3/4 of length. No difference in jaws

No difference in jaws of small & large workers in F rufa

F. rufa has wonderfully different mandibles in workers & either male or [female]

Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)