EDWARD BURGESS. 56 



two hundred others. Occasionally the burden would be 

 laid down and taken up by the empty pair behind, and 

 thus relieved they arrived at a sandy spot near the sea. 

 Holes were dug in the ground and the ants buried. 

 Some six or seven attempted to run off without perform- 

 ing their share of the work — they were pursued, brought 

 back, killed and all these recre-ants buried together in 

 a single hole, while the others had been buried in 

 separate graves. 



•The different varieties of ants have habits that are 

 peculiar to themselves. Some of these habits are quite 

 extraordinary, and indicate something more than a mere 

 instinct — they indicate a wise adaptation of means to 

 to ends. 



The Leaf-cutting Ants of the Amazon cut leaves from 

 trees and carry them home. They make a semi-circular 

 incision on the top of the leaf and tear it off. This they 

 carry over their heads to the nest. As the burden is 

 quite a heavy one for these small creatures, it is essen- 

 tial that they have a good road to travel over ; so they 

 make one by cutting down the grass and removing all 

 obstructions. As they are moving in both directions, 

 going to the trees and returning, to avoid confusion, it is 

 necessary that some order should be preserved, so each 

 column keeps to the right. Looking at them from above, 

 each one carrying a leaf over its head, the file looks like 

 a giant snake moving slowly over the ground. The 

 singular thing is that these leaves are not used by the 

 ants themselves. They are cut up in small pieces by the 

 workers at home, and they then support a fungus which 

 the ants do eat, so that they are actual gardeners, raising 

 one vegetable from another for their own use. If they 

 are overtaken in a shower, the leaves, before storing 

 them in the nest, are left outside to dry ; if they are 

 excessively wilted by the heat they are likewise left until 

 they harden in the cool evening air, and if the weather 



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