CARPENTERS AND WOOD-WORKERS 1 1 1 



Termites, for after they had been at work for eight 

 or ten years the beam was taken down and it was 

 found they had only penetrated to a length of 

 two feet. The thickness of the beam was seven 

 inches, so that this area was considerable. The 

 beam was cut through the affected part, and was 

 found to be well excavated, with the floors, arches, 

 and columns left, much as in the work of the Jet 

 Ant, and as in that case well blackened. 



The anxiety of this Pennsylvanian ant to dispose 

 of the evidences of its industry is shown in another 

 incident mentioned by McCook. A small maple- 

 tree grew in one of Philadelphia's streets, to which 

 the ants had obtained access through a crevice 

 in the bark. From this crevice the wood-dust was 

 ejected and, of course, formed a tell- tell heap on 

 the side-walk. Here, again, a couple of ants were 

 busily engaged in disposing of it by carrying it grain 

 by grain to the kerb, and dropping it over into 

 the gutter. After every such performance the ant 

 would carefully brush her mouth with her fore- 

 feet to make sure there were no fragments of wood- 

 dust adhering to it. 



The European species Camponotus herculeanus 

 has similar wood-excavating habits. In South 

 America there is a carpenter ant known as Crypto- 

 cerus atratus, which is remarkable for the spines 

 on its thorax and at the back of its broad head. 

 It perforates the dead branches of trees and woody 

 climbers. The entrance to its nest consists of a 

 few neatly drilled holes which are the beginnings 



