286 HENRY C. MCCOOK. 



to be frozea to a horizontal plane 12 inches from the vertex, the melted 

 portions named above excepted. The temperature at 18 inches from 

 the vertex was 34°. In the frozen parts no auts or other insects were 

 found; but on the rim of the unfrozen portion a colony of white ants 

 {Termes Jlavipcs), was found occupying a series of cells in a space 

 about four inches square, and in a quite livelj' condition. Near them 

 was a large collection of roaches, a hundred or more apparently of the 

 most lively character. There were scarcely any ants near these; but 

 in the centre of the piece they were very plentiful and lively. No 

 beetles were found, and no aphides were discovered about the roots of 

 the grass, although diligent search was made. 



There are several inferences, more or less conclusive, concerning the 

 winter economy of the fallow ant which we may draw from the above 

 facts. First, the ants dwell within their formicaries during winter and 

 make no attempt to modify the surface surroundings. Sfecond, the vast 

 majority of the community, together with the fertile queens, larva3 and 

 cocoons occupy the underground galleries. This appears from the fact 

 that but one young queen, and comparatively few workers of the vari- 

 ous classes, were found in the hill galleries. Third, the composition 

 of the mounds is such as to ensure, in the central parts, a good degree 

 of protection against ordinarily severe winters for the few ants that 

 occupy them. Fourth, the vitality of the ants is sufficient to keep 

 them active within the hills during all ordinary seasons. Filth, it is 

 yet more evident that the occupants of the underground galleries are 

 not torpid during ordinary winters, if ever, but exist in a state of con- 

 siderable activity. Finally, it would appear that the ants are able to 

 spend the winter in the active state without regular and ordinary 

 supplies of food. 



I do not advance this last opinion with any great degree of confi- 

 dence. The mystery of the underground galleries still vails the i'acts 

 that would solve the question completely. IJut all the known facts 

 point to the above inference. I had thought that the tufts of grass 

 which grow upon many hills, and which evidently grow at the ants, 

 consent might be preserved not only to strengthen the architecture, 

 but to furnish at their roots sustenance for aphides. Accordingly, at 

 a visit made Oct. 2(), 187(), a cold, snowy day, T carefully searched for 

 aphides upon the roots of the grass, but found none. iMr. Kay's search 

 was ecjually fruitless. The roaches found in such numbers by Mr. Kay, 

 and also by myself, are doubtless simply squatters upon the emmet 

 territory. However, it must be considered as still unsettled whether 



