54 BRITISH ANTS. 



COLLECTING. 



Ants occur everywhere ; in gardens and fields, in woods and 

 copses, on heaths and open places, on mountains and in valleys, 

 on the cliffs, and even -in towns : but sandy and chalky soils appear 

 to be the most productive situations. Colonies may be found 

 under stones, bark, and at the foot of trees, in stumps and fallen 

 branches, in hollow sticks, and galls, in banks, in the nests of other 

 ants, and in houses. 



When stray individuals are observed about, but their nest 

 cannot be seen, the latter may often be found by carefully tracking 

 workers returning to their dwelling laden with prey sometimes 

 over long distances. Some ants return direct to the nest, others 

 wander about for some time, having apparently lost the track. 

 Ants' nests most frequently face the east, and the side of a cliff, 

 valley, or bank which is so situated will be found to be the best. 



When a colony has been located, we should first note the situation 

 of the nest, what it is made of, or how it is built, the behaviour of 

 its inhabitants, what prey they bring home, whether any strange 

 ants, parasites, or other myrmecophiles are on or above the nest, 

 etc. The nest must then be treated differently according to whether 

 the myrmecologist wishes to take the colony home, to obtain 

 queens, or myrmecophiles, or only to study the habits, and capture 

 a few of the workers. If a colony be situated under a stone, the 

 latter should be carefully raised and the upper chambers and 

 galleries of the nest examined, and unless it is desired to dig it up, 

 the stone should be replaced in the same position as before. Should 

 queens be required, the nest must be dug up at once and thrown 

 on to a sheet, as if it is interfered with first, the queens may often 

 escape ; this is frequently the case with such species as Formica 

 rufa. I have generally found it necessary in the case of F. sanguined, 

 to dig up the whole nest at once with a spade and throw the earth, 

 etc., on to a large sheet. In examining F. rufa nests for myrme- 

 cophiles, handfuls of debris should be taken from various parts 

 of the nest and put into a bag, the contents of which may then 

 be shaken bit by bit through a sieve over the sheet. All nest 

 materials, etc., should be put back on to the nest, when the ants 

 will quickly rebuild it. A little sugar placed on or near the nest 

 will often prevent the ants from deserting their old quarters, 

 which they frequently do if continually disturbed. 



When a colony is to be taken home, it can either be put into a 

 bag with a few twigs or branches to prevent the ants from being 

 crushed by the earth, etc. or, if not too large, into tins. I have 

 found it best, if possible, to secure the queen, or queens, separately, 

 and put them into tubes, or glass-topped boxes, when they may 

 be brought home in safety. 



When collecting ants, the contents of different nests should 



