158 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1879. 



bricks through which a large formicary had made its gates. From 

 the battle field a column of ants, three or four lines deep, stretched 

 along a depression caused by a shallow surface drain to a second 

 nest just under a gate that led through a wall into the house-yard. 

 Evidently the ants from the curb formicary had fallen upon the 

 unctuous treasures which had dropped by their doors, but had 

 been disturbed in their "feast of fat things'' by stragglers from 

 the gate nest. The stragglers were attacked ; others came, and in 

 time were attacked ; messengers ran to the gate nest for reinforce- 

 ments; fresh squadrons issued from the curb colony, and thus 

 the battle grew. When it was first seen a single line of ants was 

 stretched from battle ground to gate, and a double line from gate 

 to battle field. The ants in these columns were in the utmost 

 agitation. As they hurried along, fairly a-quiver with excitement. 

 they suggested strongly the outward mien and behavior of human 

 beings running to and from a fire, a riot, or a fight. Mr. McCook 

 was not able to watch the issue of this ant battle, but had no 

 doubt that the above is the true theory of its origin. It is pro- 

 bable that many similar conflicts originate in like rivalries for the 

 possession of food 



The system of galleries excavated by these insects is precisely 

 like that of most other mason ants. It is a network of galleries for 

 the most part from one-sixteenth to one-eighth inch wide, but with 

 frequent greatly widened portions. The "meshes" or solid inter- 

 spaces vary much in size. The galleries were made against the 

 inner surface of the jar, and thus are entirely visible. The ants 

 seemed to have no objection to working in the light. The princi- 

 pal galleries have a tendency more or less regular to the vertical 

 and horizontal, but the impression was made by the mode of ope- 

 rations that the workers were rather influenced by some accidental 

 feature or quality of the soil, than directed by any intelligent 

 plan, in laying out and driving the galleries. The behavior of 

 the ants gave to a human observer the impression of unconscious 

 action, not of forethought. On the contrary, a glance at the 

 series of galleries, as. thus far completed, shows an arrangement 

 admirably suited for the purposes of a nest. The cross-galleries 

 are all inclined at various degrees of inclination, leading into 

 each other and out of the surface-gates by grades which afford 

 easy passage. There is thus a mechanical advantage in the very 

 irregularity of the arrangement. It is not improbable, to say the 

 least, that the muscular system of the ant is so constructed that 

 she unconsciously takes the line of least action in her work, as do 

 human beings and lower animals when climbing the side of a hill, 

 or moving across irregular surfaces. The thorough interlacing of 

 the galleries affords easy intercommunication throughout the 

 nest. There is also an evident convergence of the cross galleries 

 at several points upon vertical galleries which are much widened 

 as though to provide for the convenient movements of increased 

 numbers. 



