NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 



while, other workers have dropped out of the lines, and 

 may be seen here and there at their ablutions. Thus 

 it goes in the field, as one may easily see if he have tact 

 and patience. 



But artificial nests give the best opportunity for 

 careful observation, although one must allow for the 

 unnatural surroundings.^ No doubt with ants, as with 

 man, artificial contlitions of society induce greater at- 

 tention to personal appearance. Thus the author's 

 imprisoned ants would invariably be drawn out from 

 their underground lodgings by the light and heat of 

 lamps at night. They would gather in clusters against 

 the glass of the formicary next the lamp, and after 

 some preliminary jostling and skirmishing for position 

 would begin to wash themselves. Slight elevations, 

 afforded by irregularities in the surface, were favorite 

 seats. The modes of operating are so various that it 

 is difficult to describe them, much more to fix the atti- 

 tudes with the pencil. But typical poses at least may 

 be described. 



In cleaning the head and fore parts of the body, the 

 insect often sits upon the two hind legs and turns the 

 face to one side. Then the fore leg is raised and passed 

 over the face from the vertex to the mandible — that is, 

 from the top of the head to the mouth. Meanwhile the 

 head is slowly turned to expose both sides to manipu- 

 lation; and if this is not satisfactory the position is 

 reversed and the opposite leg brought into play. In 



' These notes, and the sketches upon which the illustrations are 

 based, were made chiefly from three species in confinement — the 

 Agricultural ant {Pogonomyrmex horbatus), the Florida Harvester 

 {Pogonomyrmex crudelis), and the Honey ant of the Garden-of-the- 

 gods (Myrmecocystus hortus-deorum) . 



58 



