Clifton College Scientific Society. 35 



their habitation was well pointed out by the Swiss Entomologist 

 M Huber. He carefully observed them, and found that they v^uik 

 alter sunset when the dew has fallen. He also noticed that^fter a 

 storm they were very busy with the moist clay and earth He 

 observed some m a shower brinuin,^ little pellets of earth from the 

 subterraneaii passages, and depositing them' on the roof of the ne t 

 After watching for some time he distinctly traced the little wills 

 columns, and passages of a new story. He noticed verrcarefui; 

 the way m which these insects fix the earth. The pIllS of earth 

 IS obtamed from the bottom of the nest by scraS with the 

 mandibles; the ant then carries it in its jaws. After applyTncTito 

 ^^ITm '^'n "^'^ ^}^ ^'' ^"^ P>-^««^.--inst it with\& -Ls 

 so as to fill up all spaces, they then press slightly on it with their foTe 



om-thlpener"" ''''" '" ^'"^ "^^^"^^*^' repeatedly pres^i^l 



The operation of building a new story is reported to be exceedinc^Iv 

 nteresting to look at. The ants having traced out the plan of thS 

 structure, add new portions, and thus form waUs : these waHs they 

 cover over by a vaulted ceiling. So quick are they in theTr wo k tint 

 they w,l often erect a new story in seven or eight hours If tW 

 have not finished a story while the rain is falling, or the earth is 



thTLn^ '^'^7 ^^'^ '^'^ ^''^' ^" ^^^^ ^<^i«t e^^-th, they de foy 

 the portion of the new story Mhich is unfinished and scatter the 

 remains. It used to be thought tb.t auts used some TortJ Xe to 

 prepare the earth for their buildings, but M. Huber's exuerTment^ 

 have settled this matter. He^ moistened a nest SfiL 

 sprinklings of water, and found that the insects immediatdbeo-m 

 to bring pellets from the bottom of their nest, and in Tfe v hmn-s 

 had cons ructed a new story. But I have been talking 0X0! Ue 

 stones which they add to their habitations, but if we exTmine he 



to for'^'"'''; ''"'?'^' "' 'Y''' ""''''' ^^ fi»d that threarthTey 1 

 to form a story. ,s scooped out in such a manner as to leave anarfe 

 ments below, even larger tlian those they form above They therSo,!; 

 are constructing two saloons at once, one below the earth bvmTnt^ 

 and another above, constructed from the earth which they di<. ou in 

 their niinmg operations. -^ ° ^^ 



Another kind of ant, and one found in England, is the dark ash 

 colored ant (Fonnto^ Fusca). Their nest is simple and heavy in its 

 construction, when compared with that of the brown ant The mode 

 m which they heighten their habitation is, however, very interest 

 Ihey beam l,y covering the roof with a thick layer of ^earthnS3; 

 they bring Irom the interior. In this they trace out the olan of . 

 new story, by hollowing out cavities of eqmd depth and at dffel? 

 dis ances, and of a size adapted to their \-equn4nents. Thus the' 

 have the foundations for their new walls, and having built these to 

 the necessary height, they cover over the apartments with a c ng 

 M Hi ber describes the work of a single ant. One rainv dav he 

 noticed a labourer digging the ground near the aperture which ^ave 



