Mason-ants. ^5^ 



is so finely grained, that the inner walls present one 

 smooth unbroken surface. These stories are not 

 horizontal; they Ibllovv the slope of the ant-hill, and 

 lie one upon another to the ground-floor, which com- 

 municates with the subterranean lodges. They are 

 not always, however, arranged with the same regu- 

 larity, for these ants do not follow an invariable 

 plan; it appears, on the contrary, that nature has 

 allowed them a certain latitude in this respect, and that 

 they can, according to circumstances, modify them 

 to their v\dsh; but, however fantastical their habita- 

 tions may appear, we always observe they have been 

 formed by concentrical stories. On examining each 

 story separately, we observe a number of cavities or 

 halls, lodges of narrower dimensions, and long gal- 

 leries, which serve for general communication. The 

 arched ceilings covering the most spacious places 

 are supported either by little columns, slender walls, 

 or by regular buttresses. We also notice chambers, 

 that have but one entrance, communicating with the 

 lower story, and large open spaces, serving as n kind 

 of cross-rcad (can-efour), in which all the streets 

 terminate. 



" Such is the manner in which the habitations of 

 these ants are constructed. Upon opening them, we 

 commonly find the apartments, as well as the large 

 open spaces, filled with adult ants; and always ob- 

 serve their pupa3 collected in the apartments more 

 or less near the surface. This, however, seems re- 

 gulated by the hour of the day, and the temperature: 

 for in tliis respect these ants are endowed with great 

 sensibility, and know the degree of heat best adapted for 

 their young. The ant-hill contains, sometimes, more 

 than twenty stories in its upper portion, -and at least 

 as many under the surface of the ground. By this 

 arrangement the ants are enabled with the greatest 

 tlicility, to regulate the heat. When a too burning 

 sun over-heats their upper apartments, they withdraw 



