AXT COMMUNITIES 



would gradually form, aided by the natural emmet appe- 

 tite for animal and vegetable fats and oils of all sorts. 

 The tendency to carry all these seeds to the common 

 centre, the nest, would in clue course be followed bv, 



*/ / 



first, the taking off and deporting the useless husk or 

 shell, and, next, the retaining for temporary, and so at 

 last storing (Fig. 56) for more permanent use, the grain 

 or nutty meat of the seed. The harvesting habit in ants 

 since it was first scientifically confirmed by Moggridge [Mg. 

 1] has excited an exceptional degree of interest and sur- 



Fig. 57 OCCIDENT ANT HARVESTING SEEDS OF WILD SUNFLOWER 



prise. But in truth, when one considers all the condi- 

 tions, the wonder is that it is not more widely distributed. 

 Here we may notice a peculiarity that appears in the 

 communes of a Texas species, PJieidole instabilis. A 

 study of its feeding habits presents a striking example 

 of a sharp distinction between the functions of the 

 soldier and the worker caste. The workers are much 



116 



