90 COLEOPTERA. 



subterranean cells and involving its inmates in certain death ? 

 Let him convert a wax taper into honey-comb, or an old post 

 into the symmetrical nest of the wasp — I will then admit his 

 competency to rebuild an ant-hillock. 



To urge the inconvenience to which the plan of the French 

 Entomologists must subject the operator, and of which Mr. 

 Douglas, in his u World of Insects," p. 240, gives an 

 amusing, but I can vouchsafe authentic account, will, I fear, 

 not deter some from at all events essaying it ; there are, I am 

 sorry to say, those in our ranks, whose sole object is to get 

 up, as it is styled, a collection, regardless of how this aim is 

 attained, who would appear with the disciples of Loyola to 

 hold that the end justifies the means. As a warning to these, 

 I will state that in France the examination of ants' nests has 

 long been strictly forbidden, it having soon been discovered 

 by the proprietors of woods, and others interested in the 

 preservation of game, that the reckless proceedings of the 

 Entomologists threatened speedily to extirpate the ants, and 

 thus deprive the young pheasants and other game birds of 

 their chief source of subsistence. The course I adopt, and 

 have above described, is, I believe, invariably followed in 

 Germany, as it occasions but little discomfiture and no injury 

 to the ants. 



Formica fuliginosa generally constructs its habitation 

 in the interior of hollow trees, especially oaks. The nest 

 itself is usually inaccessible ; the entrance to it, however, will 

 be readily found by watching the streams of ants ; it is nearly 

 always situated at or near the roots of the tree. On exami- 

 nation it will be observed that the ants have ejected from it 

 a mass of comminuted, moist and fermenting wood, which 

 should be taken up quickly, thrown on to a sheet of paper 

 or white cloth, and carefully looked through. The bark sur- 

 rounding the entrance should then be closely searched ; it is 



