1276 The Zoologist— July, 1868. 



upon which they subsist. It is also known that they construct cells 

 from fifteen to twenty-five feet below the surface, — below the line of 

 change of temperature, — and in these deep subterranean apartments 

 for their winter quarters, they would not become torpid, but would 

 remain active. Now, if during the warm season it is necessary for 

 them to consume the almost incredible amount of leaves which we 

 see them daily carrying in, it becomes a matter of surprise — an un- 

 accountable thing indeed — how they can make out through the winter 

 months without anything to eat, when we know that they are not in a 

 torpid state, but lively and active. 



In this vicinity within the last two years (1861) the cutting ants 

 have greatly diminished. Many large cities have dwindled away to a 

 few thinly populated holes, whilst many others are entirely depopulated. 

 This, I think, is mainly altiibutable to the protracted dry weather. 

 With many other species, particularly the agricultural and little black 

 ants, long droughts seem to favour their increase. Not so with the 

 cutting ant : they evidently decline. A seven years' drought would 

 cause their we'.ls to dry up as it did many of the wells belonging to 

 the genus Homo. I know of several very pretty homes that were 

 evacuated the present year by human families, on account of the 

 failure of their wells: their wells dried up, and as they could not 

 deepen them sufficiently to obtain a supply of water they were 

 obliged to leave their long-cherished and well-fixed homes. The ants 

 have done the same tling, and as I think for the same reason : their 

 wells also failed, and they have perished for want of water, or have 

 emigrated to districts more congeuial to their peculiar mode of life. 

 Anyhow they have greatly diminished, and many large cities are 

 actually depopulated and lying in ruins. 



On the 1st of August, 1861, I discovered in a grove of thick 

 timber and much undergrowth a great many cutting-ant holes : they 

 were all around in the bushes, extending perhaps over an acre of 

 ground : they were all alike of recent dale : their newly thrown up 

 little heaps of fresh sand was what first attracted my attention. 

 Finding them there on the hill-side, and actually boring holes in the 

 thick woods, was a performance so entirely contrary to their customary 

 habits that I was led to the examination of the matter, and if possible 

 to ascertain the cause of this strange unantlike proceeding. My first 

 impression was, there being a large and very ancient city a few hundred 

 yards distant from the new settlement, that it was the work of the 

 recently thrown off queens from the old kingdom ; that the young 



