i68 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



powder. A few of the combs had crumbled away of 

 themselves, and formed a layer of dust on the floor 

 of the chamber. The fresh combs were most unpleasant- 

 looking objects. Both in colour and shape they almost 

 exactly resembled human skulls. Indeed, as they lay 

 about on the ground they might easily, at a little 

 distance, have been mistaken for such just disinterred 

 from a cemetery. 



These combs consist of a multitude of large, flat cells 

 placed over each other in very irregular layers. Flat 

 shells the size of a shilling, and arranged in the shape 

 of a sponge, would give some idea of their construction. 

 The cells are formed of a material which has much the 

 appearance of brown paper. It is, I imagine, merely 

 earth kneaded together with the glutinous liquid which 

 the ants secrete from their mouths. 



I had two of these fresh combs placed under the 

 shade of a tree, that I might further observe them. 

 In order to protect them from injury, I caused them 

 to be carefully covered with soft, dry earth. This 

 measure of precaution had, however, an unfortunate 

 result. Next morning, when the earth was removed, 

 the combs were found covered with a green fungus, 

 and their inhabitants, the young ants and pupae, 

 were all dead. 



About a fortnight afterwards I dug up another nest, 

 and made a discovery, for in one of the combs we came 

 on the queen. At first sight she had the appearance 

 only of an enormous grub, some three inches long and 

 at least an inch and a half in circumference ; but on 

 closer inspection I perceived that this apparent grub 



