354 ants' nests. 



appears the insects go below. They also go below when the 

 sun shines too strong. 



The same species which mine, and which build earthen struc- 

 tures above ground, also live under stones as soon as they find 

 any. The stone must be neither too small and thin nor too thick 

 and large. Stones of 2 to 15 centimetres in thickness are the 

 most desirable, according to the size of the ants and the extent of 

 their colonies. They allow the best regulation of the heat for the 

 brood. 



The species of Lasius^ Formica^ Myrmica, Teiramorium^ 

 Piagiolepis, Pheidole^ Camponotus, AphcEnogastei\ Bofhriomyrmex, 

 Tapinoma^ and other genera, are found in swarms under stones 

 among us in Europe. There are few genera of ants that never 

 live under stones. 



(c) Earth structures above grotmd. — Many kinds of ants are 

 excellent masons, but by no means all. It is easier to mine 

 than to construct walls, vaults, and pillars. 



1 advise everyone who wishes to see one of the most beautiful 

 displays of animal instinct and animal intelligence to equip himself 

 with an umbrella, and with patience, on some warm day in May, 

 when it begins to rain after a drought, or when it has just stopped 

 raining, to repair to a meadow, and there, with the greatest perse- 

 verance, to watch attentively the surface of the ant-hills and the 

 actions of their occupants. He must at the same time watch 

 closely individual ants and their work. He will then admire the 

 skill and foresight of these insects, and will see how the little 

 architects and masons understand how to turn every blade of grass, 

 every stalk, every leaf, to account by means of their earth mortar, 

 in the erection of vaults, pillars, walls, etc. In this manner are 

 made those no less numerous than wonderful earth labyrinths 

 which serve the ants in our meadows as conical superstructures. 

 Our Fig. 9 represents a fragment of the mound of an earth nest 

 of Lasius fiiger. It can be seen how blades of grass and leaves 

 are used in the masonry as pillars, arches, etc. The drawing, 

 which is two-thirds of the natural size, was made by Mr. L. 

 St.hroter, like all the others, from the original piece, which I had 

 hardened with a solution of silica. I need not add that a mined 



