212 THE WORLD'S LUMBER ROOM. 



arcades are sometimes several feet long, and seem to serve 

 as a common pleasure-ground for a number of birds, which 

 amuse themselves by running in and out.* The mere size 

 of the ant is of course no reason at all against its taking 

 pleasure in similar "collections." 



Sir John Lubbock is at all events of opinion that they 

 may take pleasure in keeping pets, for as many as forty 

 different species of minute beetles are found in their nests, 

 some of which are so thoroughly domesticated as never to 

 be met with elsewhere. 



The ants take great care of these beetles, and are as 

 anxious to remove them as their own young to a place . of 

 safety should the nest be invaded. But, as beetles are the 

 great insect-scavengers, it seems probable that some at 

 least may act in this capacity to their hosts, who keep a 

 blind woodlouse for the same purpose apparently. The 

 latter, however, they treat with the utmost unconcern, and 

 leave behind to shift for itself when they migrate. 



According to Mr. Belt, the Saiiba, or leaf-cutting ants, 

 like the termites, are in the habit of growing "mushrooms," 

 but in a still more systematic way, since they supply them 

 with the proper soil or manure, in the shape of leaves, the 

 blossoms of certain plants, and the inside white rind of 

 oranges, all of which are torn into minute shreds. Certain 

 it is that some of their chambers are often three parts filled 



* The jackass-penguin, according to Mr. Moseley, collects in and about 

 its nest small stones, shells, old bits of wood, nails, rope-ends, old sails, 

 boat-spars, even forgotten bags of guano, and anything else which may 

 chance to be left in its neighbourhood, but this seems to be for purposes of 

 drainage. 



