ANTS ^ 



some reason or other, almost entirely confined them- 

 selves to another verandah — the one which faced to 

 the north ; and, with few exceptions, they were only 

 day visitors. They came in the morning, and departed 

 again as the sun declined. Those that remained 

 permanently were ants of the most diminutive species. 

 They also, like the small red ants, excavated residences 

 for themselves in the solid masonry flooring. 



The larger ants, the day visitors, were to be numbered 

 by thousands. Whenever I entered the verandah I found 

 the entire surface of the floor and walls thickly speckled 

 with them. Their activity, too, was wonderful. They 

 appeared to pass their time in ceaseless wanderings, 

 hardly ever, that I could observe, resting even for an 

 instant. The object of their wanderings was not 

 apparent. I suppose it was in search of food, though 

 what food they could find in the verandah was a puzzle, 

 for the room that served as a larder was on the other 

 side of the house. 



Except in the larder, ants are one of the few Indian 

 insects that are not an annoyance. They are so 

 clean ; they confine themselves so entirely to the walls 

 and floors, and mostly to those of the verandahs ; but in 

 the larder, or wherever else there is anything eatable, 

 then there they are a pest. However carefully food may 

 be hidden away or protected, the ants are sure before 

 long to discover and devour it. The only receptacle 

 that will protect food from the ants is a safe with wire 

 gauze sides, and supported on long legs, the legs resting 

 in wide stone saucers kept filled with water ; and this 

 requires constant attention, for the dust, with which the 



