14 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



into the air. The sexual forms having dispersed, 

 excavation continues and is soon completed. The 

 ants next seek the harvest. They spread out in all 

 directions from the formicary, searching- the ground for 

 seeds. As soon as they discover a suitable area — it may 

 be twenty or more yards distant from the nest — they 

 rapidly wear away a regular thoroughfare between the 

 collecting area and the nest, along which they pass 

 and repass in a busy throng, either hastening to the 

 nest laden with their little stores of provender or 

 hurrying out to renew their burdens. From the un- 

 ceasing tramp of millions of tiny feet a well-worn and 

 conspicuous road is formed. There is no right of 

 way, but there is no confusion ; all pass backward 

 and forward with perfect regularity ; in fact the air 

 of business, the bustle, and the all-pervading order 

 remind one of the swarms of human beings hurrying 

 along the highways of our great cities. 



The gathering of the seeds is well worth observa- 

 tion. The ants move out along their road, reach the 

 distant end and spread themselves over the collecting 

 area. Some explore the ground, others ascend the 

 plants to cut the seeds that have not yet fallen. Each 

 ant, having secured a suitable seed, makes straight for 

 home. Over every obstacle it pushes or drags its 

 burden, much heavier than itself. With wonderful 

 strength and energy it surmounts the stones and little 

 hillocks that oppose it, or winds its way through a 

 miniature forest of grass. It at length reaches the 

 beaten track, hurries at a great pace along the smooth 

 road, ignoring all its comrades in its eagerness for 

 home. Arriving at the door, it enters, carries its load 

 down the tunnel until it finds the granary. There it 



