86 WAYS OF THE SIX-FOOTED 



these did this original work with evident knowledge of 

 the principles of roof-construction. 



Ants' nests vary greatly in form and method of build- 

 ing. The most familiar of these are our so-called ant- 

 hills. Such a nest consists of deep underground galleries 

 and is very well fitted for housing the commonwealth. 



Of all the species of ants of the United States, the 

 agricultural ants show the greatest skill in city building 

 and municipal improvements. The most interesting of 

 these are the so-called flat-disk nests. These disks mark 

 the position of the underground nest, and vary in size 

 from four to ten feet in diameter. They are level and 

 hard, and kept free from all vegetation, except at cer- 

 tain seasons when a species of grass, upon whose seeds 

 the ants feed, is allowed to grow. Near the centre of a 

 disk are one or two openings ; these gates open into 

 vestibules below, from which galleries lead to a system 

 of rooms arranged in regular stories. These rooms are 

 used as granaries and nurseries, and the nest may ex- 

 tend several feet below the surface of the ground. 

 From the disks radiate roads leading out into the 

 fields. These roads are hard and smooth ; they are two 

 or three inches wide at the opening on the disk, and are 

 sometimes sixty feet long ; they are evidently made to 

 facihtate the work of the harvesters when bringing 

 home their grain. If, during the winter, when the ants 



