ENGINEERING METHODS 



that favored the process of closing, as it gave purchase to 

 the material. 



In shutting the doors of the commune, the minors 

 appear to begin work by dragging the dispersed chippage 

 toward the gate. One after another they were taken in, 

 and lodged and adjusted. It was certainly not a mere 



) 





Fig. 43 CUTTING ANTS: A GATE IN PROCESS OF CLOSING 



anthropomorphic fancy that in this process the work- 

 ers showed admirable ingenuity and a rude but effect- 

 ive sort of mechanical skill (Fig. 43). For example, 

 the longest stalks and leaves were stretched across and 

 wedged into the opening and vestibule so as to form a 

 rough scaffolding upon which the shorter pieces could 

 rest. 



As the gate gradually filled up, smaller castes of 

 workers appeared upon the field, and took up the work 

 to which their slighter frames are adapted. The last 

 touches were carefully and delicately made by the 

 minims, who in small squads fill in the interstices with 

 small pellets of soil. Finally, the last laborer steals in 



7.-. 



