254 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



lately. My guess is that within a few years the Robbers 

 and horned toads will have destroyed it. 



DOROTHY. The hot sun was too much for eight of ours 

 Ihis afternoon. They had to be carried home from the trail 

 by others. Some had lost their minds and couldn't find 

 their way, and others couldn't walk. 



FLORENCE. Some of our ants must be old or have 

 rheumatism. They're stiff. Many of them are carried out 

 of the house. 



ALBERT. They're nervous about something again. 

 Last night at eleven o'clock guards were stationed all over 

 twelve square feet. They stood about four inches apart, 

 and were almost still. Once they rushed for the door, but 

 it must have been a false alarm, as they all went back and 

 took their stations again. 



DOROTHY. Ours don't seem to raise any cows to bother 

 gardeners and farmers, and never go into our houses. They 

 do no harm that I know of. We think kindly of useful 

 kdybugs. Why not of useful ants? 



FLORENCE. Henry McCook spent many years study- 

 ing ants and writing about them, as we knoAV. He plants 

 one stalk, root or seed for birds and insects, and two for 

 himself. You see he is willing to divide up. 



ALBERT. You have it wrong: 



"One for the blackbird, 



One for the crow, 

 One for the cutworm, 

 And two for to grow." 



KENNETH. At first we thought our ants didn't make 

 trails, but later we found them making very good ones. 

 Then we thought they couldn't clear the ground of weeds 

 around their house, but found we were mistaken. Next 



