X. 



Ants and Termites. 



and size, or is devoted to the smooth, white, oval cocoons 

 containing the pupae, and which are popularly though 

 erroneously called " ants' eggs." Again, according to 

 the time of day, temperature, and climatic conditions 

 prevailing outside the nest, so the larvaa will be found 

 collected in the chambers on the different floors : the 

 warmer the day, the nearer the roof of the dome ; the 

 lower the temperature, the deeper down in the sub- 

 terranean chambers of the nest will they be found. 



As the long, hot summer afternoon draws to a close, 

 those ants who have been abroad all day may be seen 

 trooping back to the nest. Some at once disappear 

 within, while others stay to assist the workers who have 

 been adding to the outside structure of the nest. Watch- 

 ing closely, we shall be able to see that constructive 

 operations have ceased for the day, and that the busy 

 little insects are now engaged upon a different duty : 

 they are dragging the twigs and pine needles into 

 position in front of the openings, and thus closing 

 the doorways and making all snug and safe for the 

 night. By the time night has drawn a pall of dark- 

 ness over the pine woods every entrance has been 

 closed, and only a few solitary ants lurk under leaves 

 and -similar shelters, playing the part of night watch- 

 men, while the rest of the community are safe within 

 the nest. 



To those ants who build their nests entirely of earth 

 the naturalist Hiiber applied the title of Mason Ants. 

 To the study of their habits and methods of building 

 he devoted a great deal of time and attention, and left 

 a very interesting and accurate description. " The 

 earth of which their nests are composed," wrote Hiiber, 



103 



