IV 



SOCIAL HOMES 



that whenever they ceased to build he could almost 

 always induce them to resume by dipping a brush in 

 water, and striking it with the hand, so that the 

 fluid fell like fine rain. As soon as they felt the 

 refreshing drops they would immediately regain their 

 activity. Much wet is as inconvenient to them as a 

 drought. But when their walls are complete they 

 are very strong, and extremes of heat and moisture 

 appear only to increase the cohesion. These insects 



FIG. 18. Agricultural Ant of Texas (Pogonoinyrmcx barbatiis). Large flat circular 

 disk and open roads made above the subterranean formicary; from McCook. 



avoid the sun, and seem to work chiefly at night and 

 during light misty rain. Wonderfully assiduous, they 

 have been known to construct a story, with all its 

 saloons, vaulted roofs, partitions, and galleries, in from 

 seven to eight hours. 



Two other masons common over a great part of 

 Europe, the ash-coloured or dusky F. fusca * and the 

 so-called mining ant, F. cunicularia, form similar 

 nests, but the last-mentioned makes no dome. Both 



K 2 



