140 ANT-IANA. 



ANT-IANA, NO. IV. 



"^3 



111 the mornings, after a shower of rain, when I have visited the 

 colony of ants described in the last No. of the Record, I have several 

 times found them busily engaged in removing the earth from the open- 

 ings into the nesis, which presented every appearance of having been 

 closed during the night. The openings they had made through the 

 fresh earth, were only large enough for one or two to pass at a time, 

 but the evening previous, some of the holes w-ere an inch in diameter. 

 Whether the ants had stopped the holes to prevent the rain from enter- 

 ing, or whether the rain had stopped them up by washing earth over 

 them, I do not know; but the situation of the nest, on an elevated 

 bank, surrounded by thick grass, would favor the former supposition. 



It is indeed interesting to view the operations carried on at an ant- 

 hill ; how industriously and perseveringly the inhabitants remove and 

 carry out the earth, and whatever obstacles they encounter in construct- 

 ing the numerous subterranean avenues, necessary for their accommo- 

 dation. Whilst some are engaged in mining, others are busy in collect- 

 ing a supply of food for the numerous family. We see one coming 

 home bearing a fly or a caterpillar; another more courageous will re- 

 turn laden with an unfortunate cricket or a spider, which are speedily 

 conveyed into the nest, and in some instances, before life is extinct. I 

 observed one dragging a large worm more than an inch in length, which 

 seemed quite as much as it could manage, but after using considerable 

 exertion, it succeeded in bringing it to one of the openings of the nest, 

 where it left it, and went into the nest, apparently to examine whether 

 all was ready within; but it soon returned and dragged the worm in. 



I have sometimes amused myself by putting small sticks into their 

 nests, in order to witness their skill and dexterity in removing them, 

 and I was surprised to find that they possessed so much muscular 

 strength. They would seize them at one end, and if they were not 

 successful in moving them, they would go to the other, and change their 

 position until they felt them move, and if one was not able to do it, sev- 

 eral would combine their strength, and by their united efforts they would 

 remove objects of such dimensions as I should suppose entirely be- 

 yond their ability. 



About the end of June, I noticed a number of large black ants busily 

 ascending and descending a while pine tree; on examining it, I discov- 

 ered that many of the branches were thickly covered with a species of 

 aphis or plant-louse, over which these ants were carefully travelling, 

 frequently sto])ping to notice them, and at the same time touching them 



