ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS. 5Y 
sidence in a hollow tree; it constructs 
entire stories with decayed wood, select- 
ing the finest particles, which, on being 
mixed up at the bottom of the tree with 
a little earth and spider’s web, forms a 
mass of the consistency of papier mache. 
This industry recalls to mind that of 
wasps, as the labours of the Mason and 
Timber Ants bring to our recollection 
those of the Mason and Timber Bees. 
The class of hymenopterous insects, 
the richest of all in varied industry, in 
original manners and customs, in curious 
instinct, offers, continually, similarities 
and contrasts ; connections between ge- 
nera the farthest removed, and striking 
differences between species the most ap- 
proximate. The moral condition of these 
insects does not appear to follow their 
physical condition ; a truth of some im- 
portance to animal physiology. 
