124 ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD CHAP. 



the entrance to the hole, one piece being crossed over 

 the other, while the lowermost bits are stuck into the 

 earth so as to fix the foundations of the aerial erection. 

 Many of the little creatures are equally busy in ming- 

 ling the vegetable morsels constantly brought in by 

 their fellows, with the grains of earth thrown up in 

 hollowing the underground apartments, tempering the 

 granules with rain water, which harden in the sun and 

 effectually bind together the different substances. 

 Thus do these fragile materials, without cement and 

 not even interwoven, constitute a tolerably firm com- 

 position, one able to withstand the weather, and the 

 bustling energy of the ants in their life's occupations. 

 Day by day the stories composed of chambers, 

 cells, large and small, and passages, are superimposed 

 upon one another, and the edifice increases in size, 

 cavities being left open throughout the day as the 

 work proceeds, where the builders intend to construct 

 the galleries which are to lead to the interior. 



During the first fine days of the year the eggs begin 

 to be laid, and from this moment until as perfect 

 insects they are fully competent to ' do ' for themselves, 

 the young become the objects of tenderest solicitude 

 to the nursing ants. Placed alternately in the recesses 

 and the outer chambers of the nest, in the first at 

 night for warmth, whence in the morning they are 

 removed to the upper rooms where the sun's heat 

 penetrates, so as to be maintained at a uniform temper- 

 ature, gradually under this fostering care the eggs 

 increase in bulk, and the larvae are hatched. Now even 

 more than formerly, the little ones demand attention. 

 In addition to change of room every morning and 



