164 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



KENNETH. I guess it's all 0. K. At least fifty ants 

 were in it today, but there wasn't a single ant in the lower 

 room. 



The Garden Ant. 



ALBERT. One of you spoke of a town of ant colonies. 

 Why, I think this little Garden ant builds towns around 

 here. Right now there are sixteen colonies of this ant 

 strung along this alley, all in or near a line fifty-eight feet 

 long. I've seen them swarm as early as February. Just 

 the larger colonies swarmed. Runners passed from nest 



if'' 



GAEDEN ANT, City. 



to nest. The ground around the swarming colonies was 

 covered with excited guards. 



FLORENCE. I saw them. When the hour came for 

 flight the excitement amounted to almost a panic. The 

 kings and queens were urged in every way to make the 

 venture. 



KENNETH. The queens were large, but there were 

 only one-tenth as many of them as kings. It took an hour 

 to get the royalty off. After they shook out their wings 

 and pumped up their bodies they were soon out of sight. 



FLORENCE. After they were gone the workers went 

 into the house. This happened on a warm, quiet day. 



KENNETH. Some of the royalty were so abused they 

 couldn't fly, and I pitied them. Those that tried to run 



