214 INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



more closely by McCook. This species is known 

 as the Agricultural Ant {Pogonomyrmex barbatus). 



Lincecum asserted that the ants sowed the seeds 

 of a particular species of grass, known in conse- 

 quence as ant-rice {Aristida stricta), and that a 

 plot of ground in front of the ant-hill is selected 

 as their harvest-field, and carefully divested of all 

 other grasses and weeds during the season of growth 

 of the ant-rice. 



McCook qualifies Lincecum's view of the busi- 

 ness by asserting that the ants do not sow the 

 seed of ant-rice, which is a native grass, and there- 

 fore sows itself as other species do ; but that they 

 clear off all the other growths and allow the Aristida 

 a fair field and no competition. They do what all 

 competent agriculturists and horticulturists do : 

 they weed the field in order that the remunerative 

 crop shall lose none of the nourishment that the 

 soil contains. Their instruments are their jaws, 

 and with these they can make a few business-like 

 incisions which put a stop to the further develop- 

 ment of the undesirable weeds. 



When the seeds of the ant-rice are ripe and fall 

 to the ground they are diligently gathered, and 

 carried into the ant-hill one by one, and stored in 

 special chambers. After wet weather when their 

 corn has got moist and is in danger of germinating 

 before they want it to do so, they bring it out on 

 the first sunny day and dry it thoroughly. Any 

 that have sprouted they leave outside. The Florida 

 Harvester {Pogonomyrmex crudelis) is not content 



