178 



JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



[Vol. 



indefinite time, otherwise the ants will take up their abode between 

 the cage and platform rather than in the cage itself. The platform 

 is therefore made of two pieces of even, seasoned cypress y^ inches 

 thick, screwed together with numerous screws and with the grain of 

 the two pieces at right angles to each other. On this platform the 

 cage rests without fastenings of any kind. The cover (5) is con- 

 structed of two pieces of cypress in the same manner as the platform, 

 but in addition has an iron handle attached to its upper surface and 

 has a piece of felt glued to its under surface so that, when it is 

 placed upon the cage proper, all light is excluded except at the en- 

 trance. The cover is of the same outside dimensions as the cage itself. 

 To insure the platform remaining level it is often necessary to make 



Fijtr. 3. — Entrance of formicary shown in tiunn-s 1 and 2 (tigs. 1, 2 and 3 

 from oritrinal drawings bv Miss Etliel Iluts(m). 



the base of two pieces in the same manner as the platform, or to nail 

 strips across it at right angles to the grain. Both platform and base 

 are attached to the standard by long screws with heads countersunk. 

 Food is furnished by placing it on a piece of cardboard at any point 

 on the cover or platform. The base stands in running water, as ex- 

 plained below. This type of cage permits the ants to leave their nest 

 within the cage and to forage over the platform, cover and stand in 

 natural fashion, but their escape from the stand is prevented by the 

 very natural barrier of water which they find when they approach 

 the bottom of the standard. It is not possible for them to conceal 

 larvae or eggs where the observer cannot find them and they cannot 

 bring in larvje or pupa? from outside sources, to the annoyance and 

 ATxation of the student. 



While the ants are verv fond of sweets we have found that sweets 



