58 ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS. 
yet treated, and which must be regarded 
as belonging to the architecture of ants. 
5. ARCHITECTURE OF THOSE ANTS THAT 
FORM THEIR RESIDENCE OF SAW-DUST, 
DECAYED TIMBER, &c. 
The Ethiopian Ants, thus named, on 
account of their jet-black colour, hollow 
out extensive lodges and long galleries in 
the oldest trees; but if their works are 
proportioned to their size, which is 
greater than that of other ants, they 
scarcely represent the infancy of the art 
by the manner in which they are exe- 
cuted. What is most remarkable in their 
industry is, the use they make of the 
wood fallen into powder at the foot of 
the tree they inhabit, to stop up every 
chink in the flooring of their houses, to 
close useless passages, and to make com- 
partments in those labyrmths which are 
too spacious. 
The Yellow, one of the mason ants, 
shows great skill in the employment of 
this substance, when it establishes its re- 
