ANTS 7 



mounds. When the mounds were completed, all the 

 ants but one retired into the nest, through the aperture 

 left, as above mentioned, in the covering over the fourth 

 entrance. One ant remained, and now, all unaided, he 

 set about erecting a mound over this last entrance. 

 I noticed that as he placed the pellets he was very- 

 careful to preserve the aperture. As the mound rose 

 around it, the aperture assumed something the appear- 

 ance of a roughly constructed, most diminutive well. 



I watched this ant's proceedings with great interest, 

 wondering much how when the mound was completed, 

 and he retired himself into the nest, he would manage 

 to close the aperture behind him. My curiosity on 

 this point was not destined to be gratified. Before the 

 mound was completed, I was called away to the house 

 by the arrival of a visitor. I have a vague recollection 

 that on another occasion I did see the mound com- 

 pleted, and this last ant retire ; but how the aperture 

 was closed I do not remember, nor, I am sorry to say, 

 do my notes record. 



I had hitherto visited the ants ; before very long the 

 ants returned the compliment, and visited me. It was 

 in the late afternoon, the sun was just sinking, the outer 

 doors had been opened, and I was sitting in the 

 verandah waiting to take my evening drive. I happened 

 to look down, and saw that the floor was covered with 

 a multitude of small moving, dusky spots. On nearer 

 inspection I perceived that these spots were ants, and 

 ants of one of the diminutive red varieties. I had seen 

 none previously. From whence had these come ? 



On searching about I discovered that these ants were 



