ANTS— GENEEAL INTELLiaENCE. 131 



could never have got below to help in the all-important task 

 of preparing passages and chambers for the accommodation of 

 the larvae. These numerous and funnel-shaped entrances ad- 

 mitted of the simultaneous descent and ascent of large numbers 

 of ants, and the work progressed with proportionate rapidity. 

 After a few days only three entrances, and eventually only one, 

 remained open. 



Concerning the harvesting ant of Texas, the following 

 quotation may be made, under the present head, from 

 MacCook. After remarking that these ants always select 

 sunny places wherein to build their nests, or disks, he 

 goes on to say that within a few paces of his tent — 



A nest was made which was partly shaded by a small mes- 

 quite tree that stood just beyond the margin of the clearing. 

 The sapling had probably grown up after the location of the 

 community, and for some reason had been permitted to remain 

 until too old to kill off. The shadow thrown upon the pave- 

 ment was very slight; nevertheless, fifteen feet distant a new 

 formicary was being established. The path from the ranch to 

 the spring ran between this new hill and the old one, and ants 

 were in communication between the two. An opening had 

 been made in the ground, and the beginnings of a new formicary 

 were quite apparent. This is the only instance observed of 

 what seemed an attempt at colonising or removing, and I as- 

 sociated it with the presence of the smaU but growing shadow 

 of the young tree. 



He also gives us a still more remarkable observation, 

 which indeed, I must candidly say, does not appear to me 

 credible. I am, therefore, glad to add that it does not 

 appear very distinctly from the account whether the 

 author himself made the observation, or had it narrated 

 to him by his guide. But here is the observation in his 

 own words : — 



While studying the habits of the cutting ant I was tempted 

 to make a night visit to a farm some distance from camp, by 

 the farmer's story of depredations made by these insects upon 

 certain plants and vegetables. A long, dark tramp, a blind 

 and vain search among the fields, compelled us at last to call 

 out the countryman from his bed. He led us directly to one 

 of the cutting ants' nests, which was overshadowed by a 

 young peach tree. * There they be, sir,' cried he triumphantly. 



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