280 INSECT LIFE. 



to conceal themselves so that they can not be ob- 

 served. 



The nest being 1 prepared, the next step is to trans- 

 fer a colony of ants to it. The things needed with 

 which to do this are a two-quart glass fruit-can or 

 some similar vessel that can be closed tightly, a 

 clean vial, and a garden trowel. With these in 

 hand, find a small colony of ants, such as are com- 

 mon under stones in most parts of the country. 

 Collect as many of the ants and of the eggs, larvae, 

 and pupae as possible, and put them in the fruit-can 

 together with the dirt that is scooped up in collect- 

 ing them with the trowel. Search carefully for the 

 queen ; sometimes she is found immediately beneath 

 the stone covering the nest, but often it is necessary 

 to dig: a considerable distance in order to find her. 



o 



She can be recognized by her large size. If the 

 queen is not found, empty the contents of the can 

 back into the nest, and take up another colony ; 

 without a queen the experiment will be a failure. 

 When the queen is found place her in the vial so that 

 she shall not be injured while being carried to the 

 schoolroom. 



Having obtained a queen and a large part of her 

 family old and young, return to the schoolroom and 

 empty the contents of the fruit-can on to the board 

 covering the upper pane of glass, and place the queen 

 there with her family. If much dirt and rubbish has 

 been collected with the ants, remove some of it so 

 that not more than a half pint of it remains. When 

 this is done leave the ants undisturbed for a day or 

 two. Of course the moat should be filled with water 

 so that they can not escape. 



