lOO THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



this result is not exactly known, but it is certain that 

 germination does not take place, although all the 

 conditions of heat and moisture offered by the interior 

 of the ant-hill are favourable to it ; it is not less certain 

 that this arrest is due to the ants. This is shown in 

 a very simple manner. It is sufficient to prevent the 

 access of the insects to one of these chambers to cause 

 the grains to germinate immediately. We can only 

 suppose some direct action of the ants, every other 

 hypothesis falling before this single fact : the arrested 

 phenomenon is produced as soon as the Atta barbara 

 no longer acts on it. Therefore they arrest germin- 

 ation without rendering it impossible, and when the 

 moment arrives for utilising the accumulated stores, 

 their first care is to allow the grains to follow the 

 normal course of evolution. The envelope breaks, 

 the little plant makes its appearance; radicle and 

 stalk come to light. But the ants do not permit the 

 development to go too far. The little plant, in order 

 to grow, digests the starch which is associated with 

 the albumen, for it is not yet able to draw its 

 nourishment direct from the soil. To be absorbed 

 and assimilated this starch must first be transformed 

 into sugar. This chemical transformation being 

 effected, the grain is in the condition in which the 

 ants prefer it. Like a wine-grower who watches 

 over the fermentation in his vat, and stops it before 

 the wine turns sour, they stop the digestion of the 

 starch at this stage. If we do not know how they 

 retard germination, we know at all events how they 

 render it impossible at this later stage. It is the 

 young plant which absorbs the glucose, and which 

 must therefore be destroyed ; they cut off the radicle 

 with their mandibles, and gnaw the stalk; the germ 



