NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 



pants, after their first flutter of surprise, will return to 

 the business at which they were disturbed. In fact, 

 they were tlrawing rations, live civil pensioners in war- 

 time. And "pensioners" they have been called. Note 

 the scene before you. The floor of the cavity is pierced 

 by openings into galleries that evidently communicate 

 with the central nest, more than a hundred feet away. 

 Around these openings are huddled numbers of ants. 

 Some try to escape down the galleries, and some are 

 opposing or hindering them. Others are engaged in 

 drawing or bestowing the honeydew ration. The proc- 

 ess is a curious one. The replete is reared upon her 

 hind legs, her fore legs out-stretched and her head ele- 

 vated. A pensioner in like attitude faces her, with jaws 

 lifted up against her jaws. Presently a droplet of honey- 



J.>': ■.■%■'■ 



A WORKER ANT DRAWING A RATION OF HONEYDEW FROM A REPLETE 



46 



