SUPPLYING THE COMMUNAL RATIONS 



In a few moments the two-ranked army had reached 

 the top of the tree, and the work of defoliation began. 

 In order to view the mode closely, small branches broken 



from the tree were set in the mound 

 near the gates. They were soon cov- 

 ered with ants, and in the lantern 

 light their method could be seen read- 

 ily. It was like that of Megachile, _\ 

 the leaf-cutter bee. [McC. 7, p. 145.] 

 The cutter, seated on the leaf, grasped 

 it with outspread feet, and made an 

 incision at the edge by a scissors-like mo- 

 tion of her sickle-shaped and toothed mandibles. She 

 gradually revolved, cutting as she moved, her mandibles 

 thus describing a circle or a portion thereof. The feet 

 turned with the head. The cut was a 

 clean one, quite through the leaf. The " 



Fig. 48 A PROCESSION OF TEXAS ANTS CARRYING LEAVES TO 



THEIR CAVES 



89 



