38 ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS. 
each other, and of a breadth proportioned 
to the use for which they are designed: 
they give them nearly equal depth, for 
the most part equalling their breadth ; 
the masses of earth left- between them, 
serve afterwards, for the foundation of 
the inner walls. Having removed all the 
useless earth from the bottom of each 
chamber, and reduced to their proper 
thickness the foundation of the walls, the 
architects have nothing more to do, than 
to increase the height of their building, 
and cover over with a ceiling the several 
apartments. 
After witnessing the manner in which 
these ant-hills are constructed, I was 
aware that the best and only mode of at- 
taining a correct knowledge of their or- 
ganization, was that of following indi- 
vidually the conduct of the Labourers 
engaged in erecting them. My journals 
are filled with observations of this nature. 
1 extract afew that seem to possess some 
interest. I shall at present describe the 
operations of a single ant that I ob- 
