ANT. 451 



streets and avenues to a market-place. The whole nest often con- 

 tains twenty of these stories, above the level of the ground, and at 

 least as many below it. The use of this numerous series of rooms 

 will appear in the sequel. The surface of the nest is covered with 

 a thicker wall, and has several doors admitting, in the day-time, 

 free ingress and egress. This species of ant is unable to bear much 

 heat. During the day, therefore, and particularly when the sun 

 shines, their doors are closed ; and they either keep at home, or 

 venture out only through the subterraneous passages. When the 

 dew has given freshness to the nest, and softened the earthy mate- 

 rials on its surface, they begin to make their appearance above 

 ground. On the first shower of rain that occurs the whole swarm 

 are apprised of it, and immediately resume their architectural la- 

 bours. While some are engaged in moving the earth below, others 

 are employed in building an additional story on the top ;' the ma- 

 sons making use of the materials furnished by the miners. The 

 plan of the cells and partitions is first traced in relief on the walls, 

 which are seen gradually to rise, leaving empty spaces between 

 them. The beginnings of pillars indicate the situation of the future 

 halls ; and the rising partitions show the form of the intended pas- 

 sages. Upon the plan thus traced, they continue building, till 

 they have arrived at a sufficient elevation. Masses of moistened 

 earth are then applied at right angles to the tops of the walls, on 

 each side, and continued in a horizontal direction till they meet in 

 the middle. The ceilings of the larger chambers are completed in 

 the same manner ; the workers beginning from the angle of the 

 walls, and from the tops of the pillars which have been raised in the 

 centre. The largest of these chambers, which might be compared 

 to the town-hall, and is frequently more than two inches in diame- 

 ter, is completed with apparently as much ease as the rest. This 

 busy crowd of masons arriving in every direction, laden with ma. 

 terials for the building, hastening to avail themselves of the rain to 

 carry on their work, and yet observing the most perfect order in 

 their operations, must present the most interesting and amusing 

 spectacle. They raise a single story in about seven or eight hours, 

 forming a general roof as a covering to the whole ; and they go on, 

 adding other stories, so long as the rain affords them the facility of 

 moulding the materials. When the rain ceases, and is succeeded 



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