30 ABOUT ANTS. 



dried on the first fair day, and the sound ker- 

 nels are carried back again ; those which have 

 sprouted are thrown away. Since men have 

 made farms in that country, and the cattle have 

 eaten down the ant-rice, thus spoiling their 

 crop, the ants have either abandoned the pas- 

 tures, or those communities have perished. 

 They may be found in places where the cattle 

 can not get at their crop of grain. 



Dr. Lincecum is confident, after twelve years 

 observation, that these ants plant the grain, 

 take care of it, harvest it, and keep seed for 

 another sowing. Each year the crop of ant- 

 rice is found growing about their cities, and 

 not a blade of any other green thing can be 

 found within twelve inches of this grain. 



