ANT COMMUNITIES 



formicary is enlarged by cutting out and building up new 

 rooms and galleries; perhaps a new site may be chosen. 

 A wider range of foraging is compelled by the needs of 

 the growing community. The various labors, carried on 

 at first by the queen, and afterward by the few pio- 

 neers, become more and more specialized, until at 

 last are developed the vast and divided industries of a 

 large and fully organized ant commune. 



Meanwhile a remarkable change has befallen the queen 

 mother. The workers, as their number grows, have taken 

 on more and more the responsibility of labor and adminis- 

 tration, until at last the whole burden thereof is lifted 

 from the queen, and she is limited to the function of 

 motherhood (Fig. 70). She lays the eggs from which 

 new citizens must be recruited, a service which increases 

 in importance with the expansion of the community. 

 Not only have the labors enlarged, but the wastage of 

 life has greatly increased through accidents by flood and 

 field, and perils of farther adventure into a world full of 

 strange creatures who prey upon them, as do birds and 

 divers beasts; and who war on them, as do sundry in- 

 sects and ants of alien tribes. Across their trails come 

 cattle and men, whose ponderous feet crush them un- 

 wittingly or carelessly. 



Every day has its list of casualties, very large at times. 

 Every morning sees many who venture forth in quest 

 of food supplies for dependents and home-workers, 

 bounding with vigorous life and highly intent upon use- 

 ful service, who never come back. When evening comes, 

 at the gates of their loved citv no watchful sentinels 



/ 



greet them. No eager nurses, or hungry antlings, or 

 comrades weary with toiling on the \vorks, shall lift up 



lips for sweet refection, the garnering of the day's ad- 



158 



