ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS. 15 
wetted to more than a quarter of an 
inch from the surface, provided it had 
not been previously out of repair, or 
deserted by its inhabitants. 
The ants are extremely well sheltered 
in their chambers, the largest of which is 
placed nearly in the centre of the build- 
ing; it is much loftier than the rest, and 
traversed only by the beams that support 
the ceiling : it is in this spot that all the 
galleries terminate, and this forms, for 
the most part, their usual residence. 
As tothe under-ground portion, it can 
only be seen when the ant-hill.is placed 
against a declivity ; all the interior may 
be then readily brought in view, by 
simply raising up the straw roof. The 
subterranean residence consists of a 
range of apartments, excavated in the 
earth, taking an horizontal direction. 
That part of the architecture of fallow 
ants, which equally obtains with the ma- 
son-ants, and of which I shall soon have 
occasion to speak, I shall not now stop 
to describe, but pass on immediately to 
