ANT COMMUNITIES 



note, in any species, the slightest shock or shrinking 

 when ants issue from their formicary gates into the sun- 

 light, such as one would expect in beings organized after 

 our human fashion. Of course, the passage through 

 the vestibule of the gateway, where it exists, affords 

 an opportunity (were such needed) to adapt the eye to 

 such an extreme change. But in our mountain mound- 

 builders, and other species of like habit, there is no 

 measurable vestibule. Besides, the movements of the 

 ants are so rapid that their plunge out of darkness into 

 full light seems to be instantaneous. As all the varied 

 labors of the workers are carried on within the sub- 

 terranean passages and rooms without the least em- 

 barrassment, those places cannot be so cheerless to the 

 winged idlers as one might fancy. Perhaps the monot- 

 ony of their inactive career, in such sharp contrast 

 with that of their protectors, may be the chief factor 

 in their discomfort, if any such there be. 



/ %r 



Breaks in the monotony of this underground life come 

 to the virgin queens and males in occasional visits to 

 the outer air. These were especially observed during 

 studies of the agricultural ants of Texas, in the neigh- 

 borhood of Austin. Such excursions were frequent, and 

 were evidently made simply to enjoy a bit of sport in 

 the sunshine (Fig. 78). Both sexes were seen bobbing 

 in and out of the gates, peeping forth and quickly with- 

 drawing, and again venturing one or two feet distant 

 from the entrance upon the smooth disk that surrounds 

 it. However, they rarely went far beyond the gate, and 

 were quick to retire within at any sound or suspicion of 

 danger. [McC. 3, p. 141.] 



One female reached a grass-stalk near the pavement's 

 edge, and amused herself by swinging upon the blade. 



186 



