PLANS OF BLACK HARVESTER NEST 155 



1 and 8 were small rooms. Those near the surface 

 were used as sun parlors, or warm rooms, for eggs and 

 babies in daytime. At night, no doubt, the small, warm 

 lower rooms were used for the same purpose. 



2. A network of hallways extending down to damp 

 adobe. (A shallow depression under a business room in 

 this city held water the year round.) 



3. Hallway connecting M and N. 



4. Probably an airshaft connecting with an open 

 earth crack. 



5. A well, maybe. 



6. Pillars between J and K and between L and M to 

 support the large roofs. 



7. Entrance to door at surface. 



8. Explained above with "1." 



9. A ridge around the door made by the gallon of 

 (packed) dirt carried out of the nest while mining the 

 home. 



10. The rubbish pile, or kitchen midden, made largely 

 of chaff, but contained a few skeletons. 



Many of the rooms were ventilated, either by connec- 

 tion with earth cracks below or with the surface. The 

 ceilings of the large rooms were supported by pillars 

 near the middle. Some of the shafts may have been 

 wells. (The bean patch was irrigated.) 

 FLORENCE. In what shape did the ants leave the 



house? Did they sweep out before they moved? 



CECIL. Don't bother the speaker. You might say the 



house was perfectly clean. Hardly a clod, or seed, or 



skeleton remained, and there was no loose dirt anywhere. 



The ants had taken their grain with them. 



FLORENCE. And their guests. Don't forget to tell 



about them. 



