Miscellaneous. 387 



are above an ant-den, the inference was, that those Cutting Ants seen 

 in the garden belonged to the tribe across the river. 



The question will naturally arise, how is it possible for them to 

 direct their course in digging those long underground passages so as 

 to reach the surface at the wished-for spot ? Let those who ask also 

 answer. I only know that such long avenues exist, having thrust a 

 long stick into one at the bottom of one of their dens, and I have also 

 seen the outer openings of many of them on the banks of rivers and 

 streams, where food can easily be had from the trees and bushes 

 usually found growing on the banks of streams in all prairie lands. 



At the large 'ant-den in Austin, before spoken of, millions of 

 working ants, and bushels of eggs and larvae, with great numbers of 

 males and females, were destroyed. As soon as the large apartment 

 containing the eggs, larvae, and winged ants was found, a fire was 

 kindled forthwith amongst them, for which purpose light combustible 

 stuff was kept near. The pupa-cases were of different sizes, belonging 

 to opposite sexes, and were in a more or less advanced stage of 

 development. The workers at first are very small, scarcely a line 

 in length. The eggs, mixed with minute young ants, were in a soft, 

 grey, spongy substance, apparently leaves finely triturated and mixed 

 with an animal secretion. 



It is said they sometimes abandon their caves when from long re- 

 sidence the chambers become filthy, or perhaps they are injured from 

 heavy rains, or it may be that the ants desire a better situation for 

 provender. Whatever may be the cause, they have been known to 

 emigrate en masse, and after making new excavations, and dwelling 

 in them a few years, to return again to their first residence. It is 

 probable that they have a division of labour ; some nurse the young, 

 and others provide food. In one instance I saw one cut off a seg- 

 ment of an elm-leaf, and another seized it as soon as cut, and carried 

 it away ; but generally I have noticed that he who cuts also carries. 

 When cutting, one mandible is inserted and carried slowly along, 

 the head swaying to and fro, and the other mandible moving its 

 sharp point, apparently breaking the surface to lessen the thickness 

 to be cut by the other. 



The ant often stands on the part of the leaf which he is cutting 

 off, but he is careful to remove to a firm place before it is finally se- 

 vered ; which done, he seizes one edge of it with his mandibles, and 

 with a rapid movement throws it on his head and thorax, so that its 

 lower edge rests between the lobes of the head and the spines of the 

 thorax, and the upper edge is aloft. Away he goes, and joins the 

 busy throng in the main path, which looks as if the ants had a gala 

 day and were marching with banners flying. Lately, on the banks 

 of the Colorado River, near Austin, I saw multitudes of ants in their 

 path, going uphill with fragments of leaves and hack- berries (Celtis), 

 some entire, and others with a small portion cut off to render them 

 lighter and suitable to be carried by the smaller ants. The place at 

 which they entered the ground was about 6 feet from the top of the 

 bank. This pathway was steep, and even perpendicular for a di- 

 stance of 5 or 6 inches at a place about 1 foot below their doorway. 



