1278 The Zoologist— July, 1868. 



foliage and many large white flowers, and affords ample shade to the 

 city. When the ants locate a city on some sunny point near the 

 timbered lands they do not plant the poppy, but appear to prefer 

 certain trees and vines for shade : for this purpose they plant the seeds 

 of the prairie dogwood {Viburnum den I alum), yopon (Ilex vomitaria), 

 hackberry tree(Celtis occidentalism yum cdaslic l\ee(Bu>nelia It/cioides), 

 the mustang grape ( Vitis Texan a), Cocculus carolinus, and occasionally 

 the prickly ash (Xanthoxylum fraxinium) . It is often seen in cases 

 of long-established cities, that grape vines spread themselves over the 

 tops of the grown-up shade-trees, and the large luxuriant foliage 

 becomes so dense that it forms a shelter sufficient to turn a smart 

 shower of rain: from the scorching rays of the sun these thrifty vines 

 afford thorough protection. Notwithstanding the notable fact that all 

 the plants these ants cultivate produce nuts, pulpy fruits and large 

 seeds, I have not discovered that they make use of any of them for 

 food : they appear to be a selection for shade, and so far I have not 

 observed that they have any other use. If, however, after a more 

 careful investigation, it shall be discovered that they cultivate the 

 viues, trees and fruitful shrubs for the double purpose of both shade 

 and food, we must accord to them a share of sagacity and far-reaching 

 forethought almost incredible. 



I have occasionally discovered colonies of small-sized red ants, 

 which in form resemble the smallest type of the cutting ants: they 

 dwell in the ground : I have not seeu them cutting or carrying leaves: 

 ] have observed them thickly covering a greasy rag, places where 

 syrup had been spilt, and where coffee-grounds had been thrown aside 

 at my hunting camps : they are not often met with, and, as I now 

 think, never will be, so long as the superior and very numerous race 

 of cutting ants inhabit the land. The smallest type found in the cities 

 of the cutting ants, which 1 have before alluded to as being slaves, are 

 in shape, size, colour, and all their peculiar motions, precisely the 

 same. How happens it that the same species of ant should occupy 

 two very distinctly marked conditions? In one he dwells in small 

 colonies, makes very little mark, is never wealthy, and does not 

 remain long at the same station : in the other he is a slave ! 



How the cutting ant manages to make slaves of the smaller race is 

 as yet an unsolved question. The cutting ant does, to be sure, perform 

 all his thieving operations at night, or by the aid of an underground 

 passage, if in the day time. Consequently our observations on the 

 mode of carrying on the slave-trade must necessarily be tedious and 



