ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS. 37 
We have already seen from the descrip- 
tion of their dwelling, that, in comparison 
to the latter, it is exceedingly simple and 
heavy in its construction. ‘This simpli- 
city, however, was better adapted to my 
object,—that of examining, if possible, 
how many ants could concur in the ex- 
ecution of the same design, and how far 
they appeared to understand each other 
in the general progress of their labour ;— 
that of discovering also, if they acted in 
concert, or independently of each other ; 
of their own accord, or from some gene- 
ralimpulse. I do not flatter myself that 
I have solved these important questions, 
but the facts I am about to adduce, will, 
at least, serve to elucidate this subject. 
When the Ash-coloured Ants seem de- 
sirous to give greater elevation to their 
dwelling, they commence, by placing over 
the roof a thick layer of earth, which they 
bring from the interior. It is here they 
trace en creux et en relief, the plan of a 
new story; they, at first, form here and 
there little dykes more or less close to 
