164 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



though there was plenty of food all around them. 

 Then a slave was introduced, which at once set to 

 work and made a nest and fed those still alive, thus 

 saving from death its stupid masters." 



Observations on Ants. 



Observations on the habits of ants can be made 

 by setting up artificial nests or formicaria. 



A simple ant home or formicarium can be made 

 by getting a flat tin box about one inch high and 

 placing it on a support. The latter can be made 

 of a piece of board with four vertical pieces for legs! 

 like a miniature table. A piece of glass large 



enough to cover two-thirds of the tin box shouh 

 be placed on the box. This protects the nest, an( 

 at the same time enables one to see the working 

 of the ants. Earth, but only a very small amount 

 should be placed in the nest, for if too much is pui 

 in, the ants will cover over their nest and hide theii 

 workings. The food should be placed in the open 

 light part of the nest. The whole apparatus shouh 

 now be placed in a shallow meat dish filled with 

 water. Part of the nest should be darkened so ai 

 to get the conditions as nearly as possible to th( 

 natural homes of ants in the ground or undei 

 a stone or log. To do this, many thingi 

 could be done — a piece of wood could be j 

 placed over a corner of the glass, or a piece of 

 cardboard could be used, but the least cumbersome 

 is to paint one half, or a corner of the glass with 

 dark paint or bitumen, and then the glass can be 

 freely lifted when such is desired. 



The next thing is to provide water, for this is very 



