50 HARVESTING ANTS. 



and cells, constructed quite as in the wild nests, but 

 more crowded together. Tlie granaries were in many 

 instances full of seeds, which, though very wet, [the 

 surrounding soil being extremely moist on account of 

 there being no drainage to carry off the water which 

 I was obliged to sprinkle from time to time over the 

 surface of the nest], still showed no trace of germination 

 that I could detect. The ants were therefore able to 

 exercise the same influence over these seeds, under 

 the strange conditions of their captive state, that 

 they do in their natural homes. 



The foregoing remarks, as has been stated above, 

 refer for the most part to only one of the three 

 kinds of harvesting ants which I have observed on 

 the Eiviera — that is to say, to Af/a larhara, the jet- 

 black ant. 



As far as the manner of collectino: and storinij the 

 seed is concerned, all that has been said of Atta 

 harhara applies with equal truth to A. stnictor. 



A. structor is, however, less frequently seen above 

 ground from December to March than barhara, and 

 is more frequently found in or near the streets and 

 gardens of a town. 



The fourth species, on the other hand, the little 

 Pheidole megacepliala, differs in several particulars. This 

 ant appears to shun the daylight, and to be most active 

 at night, when, in the warm weather at the end of 

 April, it may frequently be seen carrying large quan- 

 tities of seeds into its nest. I have rarely observed 

 it at work in the daylight, so that my knowledge of 

 its habits is but small. Nor have I succeeded in dis- 

 covering its subterranean granaries, though I have 

 opened several nests. Still, I believe that it is a 



