IfiO ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



gnats that were passing up a wall. The insects seemed to 

 evaporate near the end of the toad's nose. 



A Colony of Black Harvesters Move. 



ALBERT. That colony down under the sidewalk moved 

 today. 



FLORENCE. Oh, tell us how they looked. You know, 

 they are like ours. 



ALBERT. I counted 1,400 of them on the trail at one 

 time 700 going each way. A few were carrying seeds, 

 some babies, others pupae, and a few toted young white 

 ants. All but seventy walked along as guards, and half a 

 dozen of these would grab my finger whenever I placed it 

 on the trail. Their bite would hurt, too. So the younger, 

 sharp-toothed ants must have been serving on guard duty. 



DOROTHY. How far did they move? 



ALBERT. About forty feet to an abandoned nest on top 

 of a hardpan knoll. Getting ready for the rainy season, 

 maybe. The sidewalk would be a poor place in rainy 

 weather. 



FLORENCE. Didn't they carry any eggs and queens? 



ALBERT. I guess I was too late to see these. 



CECIL. Were there no slackers none that refused to 

 help move? 



.ALBERT. About thirty ants wouldn't go. Some walked 

 off in the wrong direction. Later, I suppose these would 

 be gathered up and taken by force, for that seems to be 

 the custom with ants. 



DOROTHY. How many babies and pupae were moved? 



ALBERT. I couldn't wait to see or I'd be late to school, 

 but I counted seventy babies and pupae 011 the trail at a 

 time. I think it took half an hour for a round trip, and 



