INSECTS, HARMFUL AND OTHERWISE 231 



which there is a colony, or opening the home of a colony that 

 lives in a rotten log. 



The homes of ants do not show the skill of architecture 

 that is manifested by the bees. _ The earth dwellers gen- 

 erally have labyrinthine subterranean galleries, tunnels, and 

 chambers, and those that live in logs sometimes com- 

 pletely honeycomb the w6od. 



When an ant-hill is broken open there is generally great 

 excitement among the inhabitants. They rush about with 

 small white bodies in their mouths, either eggs or cocoons, 

 which they are endeavoring to carry to a place of safety. 



■aa-'^-'-^'--"" ^ 



Fig. 77. Ant Cage. 



The eggs are very small, and are not the larger white bodies 

 generally considered eggs. These are the cocoons. 



The ways of ants may be very well studied in the school- 

 room by placing a lot of ants and cocoons in a dish covered 

 with a pane of glass. If the dish is not opaque wrap it in 

 opaque paper. Lay a flat stone, a chip, or piece of bark, 

 slightly raised, in the dish. The ants will soon collect the 

 cocoons and themselves under the cover, and this may be 

 removed occasionally and the progress of the colony ob- 

 served. Feed the ants with sweetened water, succulent herb- 

 age and fruit. They also like caterpillars and meat. 



A convenient ant cage or formicarium has been devised by 

 Professor Comstock, which can easily be made and modified 

 to suit convenience. It is made by taking a plank about 

 16 X 18 inches, cutting a deep trench near its edge, and 

 making a moat of this by filling it with water. This moat 



