24 ABOUT ANTS. 



8ome of the large burrowing ants. Tbej) 

 arrange themselves for this purpose into two 

 bands ; one set dig into the ground and take 

 out pellets of earth, while the others receive 

 the pellets and carry them away. They will 

 thus sink a hole ten or twelve inches, and 

 always succeed in opening the nest. The ma- 

 terials they pull to pieces and carry home, as 

 well as the inmates. The community is in 

 wonderful discipline. Each ant knows his 

 place, and attends to bi-s business. 



The species E. erratiea, is blind. The eyes 

 of the other varieties are very small, but in the 

 Blind Ant they are absolutely wanting, not 

 showing even a trace. They have, however, 

 some means of knowing light from darkness, 

 for they are very uneasy when brought into the 

 light. 



They are wonderful builders, constructing 

 long galleries through which they travel. If a 

 gallery be broken into, the soldiers are seen 

 slowly coming out, and opening their large 

 jaws as if they would bito. something. If uol 



