450 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



observations were made independent of his Swiss contem- 

 porary. 



Mr. McCook noticed, as confirming one of the most ancient 

 records of the economy of ants (Prov. vi., 7), that in all their 

 movements in column, and in all building and foraging and 

 police operations, the ants exhibited an entire independence 

 and individuality of behavior. Each emmet seemed to be a 

 law unto herself, and turned freely and commonly unfailingly 

 into the most helpful and necessary channels of duty, "hav- 

 ing neither guide, overseer, nor ruler." While Iluber records 

 the fact that in Europe this ant does no night-work, the same 

 species as observed by our author, " when observed (as they 

 were by me) during nearly every hour of the night, from sun- 

 set to sunrise, were found to be pursuing the very same la- 

 bors in the same way and in the same fields as during the 

 day. The avenues, tree-paths, feeding-stations, feeding- 

 grounds and hills were always thronged day and night." 

 These ants perform some work even in the winter in Penn- 

 sylvania, in the interior of their nests. 



" There are several inferences, more or less conclusive, con- 

 cerning the winter economy of the fallow-ant which Ave may 

 draw from the above facts. First, the ants dwell within their 

 formicaries during winter, and make no attempt to modify 

 the surface surroundings. Second, the vast majority of the 

 community, together with the fertile queens, larvae, and co- 

 coons, occupy the underground galleries. This appears from 

 the fact that but one young queen and comparatively few 

 workers of the various classes were found in the hill gal- 

 leries. Third, the composition of the mounds is such as to 

 insure, in the central parts, a good degree of protection 

 against ordinarily severe winters for the few ants that occu- 

 py them. Fourth, the vitality of the ants is sufficient to keep 

 them active within the hills during all ordinary seasons. 

 Fifth, it is yet more evident that the occupants of the under- 

 ground galleries are not torpid during ordinary winters, if 

 ever; but exist in a state of considerable activity. Finally, 

 it would appear that the ants are able to spend the winter 

 in the active state without regular and ordinary supplies of 

 food. 



"We do not advance this last opinion with any degree 

 of confidence. The mystery of the underground galleries 



