147 



Ants' Nests. 



An exceedingly interesting and instructive object for pupils 

 of all grades is a colony of ants so kept that they can be observed 

 in their daily work in and about their nests. 



Students of ants have devised various means for thus arrang- 

 ing their nests. One method is to place the colony in a glass jar 

 partially filled with earth. The mouth of the jar is covered with 

 gauze or netting to prevent their escape. The jar should have 

 its sides covered with a thick dark cloth, which can be removed 

 to make observations. In capturing the colony, the queen should 

 be obtained if possible. Soon after the ants are placed in the 

 jar with the dirt, they will begin to make excavations, and some 

 of their tunnels may be against the sides of the glass. If this is 

 fortunately the case their life in the nest may be observed. 



A much better nest was devised by Sir John Lubbock. It 

 consists of two sheets of glass of about 8xio inches. These are 

 held apart at the edges by narrow, thin strips of wood, about the 

 thickness of a lead pencil, the thickness being but slightly higher 

 than the ants to be confined. These strips are placed between 

 the sheets at their outer edges. At one corner a space of about 

 a quarter of an inch is left, which is to be the door for the entrance 

 and exit of the ants. The remaining space between the glass 

 sheets is filled with pulverized earth, very slightly moist. 



This is to be the nest. This is placed in a shallow box a 

 few inches wider each way than the nest. Around the edges of 

 the box is tacked a strip of fur, which acts as a fence to retain the 

 ants within bounds. 



The margin between the nest and sides of the box give a 

 space for the ants to wander about in, and in which to place food 

 and water. A piece of cloth should cover the nest. A large sheet 

 of glass may cover the shallow box to prevent too rapid evapora- 

 tion. 



