d*l2 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



farmer-like maimer the ground upon which it stands is carefully 

 divested of all other grasses and weeds during the time it is 

 growing. "When it is ripe, the grain is taken care of, the dry 

 stubble cut away and carried off, the paved area being left 

 unencumbered until the ensuing autumn, when the same ' ant- 

 rice ' reappears within the same circle, and receives the same 

 agi-icultural attention as was bestowed upon the previous crop — 

 and so on, year after year, as I know to be the case, in all situa- 

 tions where the Ants' settlements are protected from gramini- 

 vorous animals." 



After receiving this account, Mr. Darwin wrote to Dr. Lincecum, 

 asking him whether he thought that the Ants planted seed for 

 the next year's crop, and received the following answer : " I 

 have not the slightest doubt of it. And, my conclusions have not 

 been arrived at ffom hasty or careless observation, nor from 

 seeing the Ants do something that looked a little like it, and 

 then guessing the results. I have at all times watched the same 

 ant-cities during the last twelve years, and T know that what I 

 stated in my former letter is true. I visited the same cities 

 yesterday, and found the crop of ant-rice growing finely, and 

 exhibiting also the signs of high cultivation, and not a blade of 

 any other kind of grass or seed was to be seen within twelve 

 inches of the circular row of ant-rice." 



