AMJ:RICAN HYMENOrTERA. 255 



the ridtres, scarcely any beiug found on the other sides except where 

 the ridijeo are broken, and on small knolls. The soil in those ridiics 

 is sandy. The farmers near Warrior's Mark have the opinion that 

 the number of mounds is less than many years :i<io, and that they 

 are now more generally arranged in Colonies than formerly. An 

 old settler at Pine Hill had the same opinion, although the lack 

 of positiveness in the matter would seem to indicate no very notable 

 decrease in the size of the Colonies. The same person declared that 

 here also there are scarcely any mounds on the eastern and southern 

 sides nf the ridges. The causes which influence these little builders 

 in the choice of a site for their republics are well worth further 

 attention. 



Size of Hills.— The ant hills are cones of greater or less regu- 

 larity, the most common size of which is from ]0 to 12 feet in cir- 

 cumference at the base, and from 22 to 3 feet in height. But every 

 size may be found, from the large luouuds whose measurements are 

 given below, to the mere embryo hill which is but a handfull of dirt 

 around the door of a ground gallery. The hills represented in the 

 Plates measured as follows: PI. II, single large hill; circumference at 

 base, 25 ft.; west face, 6 ft. 9 in.; east face, 3 ft. (> in.; south face, 

 4 ft. 4: in. ; north face, 4 ft. 3 in. The distance along the hill over 

 the summit was thus 10 ft. 3 in.; across it, 8 ft. T in. PI. IV, lar'-^e 

 hill, perpendicular height 32 in. PI. V, upper hill, perpendicular 

 height 24 in.; along the base through the centre 7 ft. G in. Lower 

 hill, perpendicular height 26 in.; base line or diameter ft. PI. VI, 

 double hill, western face, 6 ft.; eastern, 3 ft. G in.; between the 

 summits 5 it. 3 in.; total measurement along the top, 14 ft. 9 in.; 

 perpendicular height 27 in. 



L.argeMt Hill.— At Warrior's Mark and Pine Hill some of the 

 mounds are larger than the above. (.)ne conical hill u)easured 12 feet 

 acro.ss the top and 30 feet in circumference; another 15 feet across 

 the top and 37 fe t in circumference. Two double hills measured, 

 one 15 feet (lengthways), along the top and 47 feet around the ba.se; 

 the other along the top 24 feet, around the base 58 feet, and in height 

 was about 42 inches. This la.st is the largest observed; it w.is built 

 on an old charcoal hearth which was quite level. These double hills, 

 illustrated at PI. V, are of frequent occurrence ; they appear to be the 

 natural blending of two hills located so near to each other that they 

 nece.ssarily unite when enlarged. The inhabitants seemed to be one 

 ■family, working together harmoniously as in single hills. The large 



