CARPENTER-ANTS. 245 



These holes in course of time become square, and the 

 pillars, originally arched at both ends, are worked into 

 regular columns by the chisel of our sculptors. This, 

 then, is the second specimen of their art. This portion 

 of the edifice will probably remain in this state. 



" But in another quarter are fragments differently 

 wrought, in which these same partitions, pierced now in 

 every part, and hewn skilfully, are transformed into co- 

 lonnades, which sustain the upper stories, and leave a 

 free communication throughout the whole extent. It 

 can readily be perceived how parallel galleries, hollowed 

 out upon the same plan, and the sides taken down, leaving 

 only from space to space what is necessary to sustain 

 their ceilings, may form an entire stor}^ ; but as each has 

 been pierced separately, the flooring cannot be very level : 

 this, however, the ants turn to their advantage, since 

 these furrows are better adapted to retain the larvas that 

 may be placed there. 



"The stories constructed in the great roots offer 

 greater irregularity than those in the very body of the 

 tree, arising either from the hardness and interlacing of 

 the fibres, which renders the labour more difficult, and 

 obliges the labourers to depart from their accustomed 

 manner, or from their not observing in the extremities 



Portion of a Tree, with Cliambers and Galleries chiseled out by Jet-Ants. 



of their edifice the same arrangement as in the centre ; 

 whatever it be, horizontal stories and numerous partitions 



