ants' nests. 353 



ranean corridors, and in many cases leading to root plant lice 

 (Lasius flavus) or serving for other purposes. The underground 

 hunts of the species of Dorylus, or visiting ants, are partially 

 carried on in this manner. These are blind robber ants, which 

 carry on an underground hunt after all conceivable ground insects, 

 as I myself have observed in Tunis. They are also called " visit- 

 ing ants," because they frequently make a sudden attack at night 

 upon dwelling-houses and destroy all the vermin in them. 



The species of Messor (Europe), Pogotiomyrmex (America), 

 and Hokomyrmex (India) construct under ground, at a consider- 

 able depth (often at the depth of a yard), very large chambers or 

 granaries, in which they store the seeds which they have gathered. 

 In the same way the species of the American genus Aita excavate 

 extremely deep and extensive passages and make immense cham- 

 bers, in which they store the leaves which they have cut from 

 trees, in order to lay off upon them the fungus gardens from which 

 they supply themselves with food. This discovery, which was first 

 made by Belt and subsequently declared by McCook to be 

 incorrect, has been recently confirmed by Dr. Moller, of Blu- 

 menau, in its full extent and by superb experiments. 



A great deal of interest is likewise attached to the underground 

 hunts carried on by the ants of the genus Lohopelta in India, after 

 the termites, according to the careful observations of Mr. 

 Wroughton. They feed upon these white ants, and pursue them 

 in their own passages. I conjecture that the same thing is true of 

 the various species of the genus Leptogenys, and that they use 

 their long, thin, pointed, sickle-shaped jaws, which bear a strong 

 resemblance to a curved needle, to pierce the termites, which 

 they then devour by the aid of their comparatively powerful 

 under jaw. 



{b) Nests under stones. — As is well known, wherever there are 

 stones on dry declivities, etc., innumerable ants' nests are found 

 under tlicm. The stone serves as a roof, under which are the 

 most beautiful corridors and chambers. Under these lies the 

 mined nest. The stone serves, above all, to produce a speedy 

 warming by means of the rays of the sun. The ants under it are 

 always in the highest story, in damp or cool weather, as soon as 

 the sun shines or begins to penetrate. As soon as the sun dis- 



