CARRYING THINGS. TRAILS 93 



CHAPTER VI. 



August 10 to August 20. 

 Carrying Things. Trails. Heavy Loads. 



CECIL. I found one of your ants on top of one of the 

 tiny posts we drove on your yard, but its abdomen had 

 been cut off. I suppose it had been either carried or 

 ordered from home. 



ANT. The ant may have been injured in any one of 

 several different ways. 



DOROTHY. One ant brought another out of the house 

 and left it near one of the tiny stakes on the yard. The 

 outcast climbed the stake and crossed feelers with a third 

 ant for a long time. The third one then carried the out- 

 cast down and up the stake, making six round trips with- 

 out stopping. I suppose the third one was an "outcast" 

 also. 



FLORENCE. I saw an ant carry two out of the house 

 at once. One of them climbed a tree (weed), and the other 

 one struck out across the country. 



ANT. You can't get it into your head that of a thou- 

 sand or two of ants, that at most any time some must be 

 old and worn out, sick, crazy, or crippled, and have to be 

 taken out of the house. 



FLORENCE. Of course, too, some are exposed to dis- 

 eases that are catching have the measles, mumps, small- 

 pox or fever, and should be removed. I suppose we are 

 mistaken when we think you are giving your ants a joy 

 ride. 



ALBERT. I saw your ants carry out two large winged 



