312 FIRST LESSONS IN ZOOLOGY 



Iccted with the ants, remove some of it so that not more 

 than hah' a pint of it remains. When this is done leave 

 the ants undisturbed for a day or two. Of course the 

 moat should be filled with water so that they cannot 

 escape. 



' ' Usuall}- within twenty-four hours the ants ^vill find 

 the opening leading into the space between the two panes 

 of glass and will make a mine into the la}-er of earth which 

 is there, and will remove their queen and young to this 

 place. This process can be hastened by gradually re- 

 moving the dirt placed on the cover of the nest with 

 ants. 



" After the ants have made a nest between the panes 

 of glass they can be observed when desired by merel}' 

 lifting the board forming the cover of the nest. 



" With proper care a colony can be kept in a nest of 

 this kind as long as the queen lives, which may be sev- 

 eral years. The food for the ants can be placed on the 

 base of the nest anywhere within the moat, and ma\- 

 consist of sugar, minute bits of meat, fruits, etc. With 

 a little care the kinds of food preferred by the colony can 

 be easily determined. The pupa; of ants, which can be 

 collected from nests in the field during the summer months 

 will be greedily devoured. The soil in the nest should 

 be l^ept from becoming too dr\' b}- putting a little water 

 into one side of the tin tray from time to time." 



The ant \\'ork'ers are speciall)' distinguished in structure 

 from the males and females b\' their lack of wings (fig. 

 245), and in numerous species there are two sizes or kinds, 

 known as worker majors and worker minors. The life- 

 histor)' and communal habits of ants are not so thoroughly 

 known as are those of the hone)'-bee, but the}' show e\-en 

 more remark-able specializations. The ant nest or for- 

 micary is, with most species, an elabf)rate s_\-stem of 

 underground galleries and chambers, special rooms beimr 



