PROVISIONS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 105 



leaves into small fragments and to care for the young. 

 On examination the masses proved to be composed 

 of " minutely sub-divided pieces of leaves, withered 

 to a brown colour, and overgrown and lightly con- 

 nected together by a minute white fungus that 

 ramified in every direction throughout it." That they 

 do not eat the leaves themselves was shown by the 

 fact that near the tenanted chambers were found 

 deserted ones filled with the refuse of leaves that had 

 been exhausted as manure, and which served as food 

 for the larvae of various beetles. There are numerous 

 holes leading up from the underground chambers, 

 and these are opened out or closed up, apparently in 

 order to regulate the temperature below. Great care 

 is also taken that the nest should be neither too dry 

 nor too damp ; if a sudden shower comes on the 

 leaves are left near the entrance, and ' carried down 

 when nearly dry ; during very hot weather, on the 

 other hand, when the leaves would be parched in a 

 very short time, the ants only work in the cool of the 

 day and during the night. Occasionally, inex- 

 perienced ants carry in grass and unsuitable leaves ; 

 these are invariably brought out again and thrown 

 away.^ 



Domestic animals of Ants. — Following through dif- 

 ferent species the perfection reached in the art of laying 

 up provisions for the future, we have gradually arrived 

 at methods resembling those of Man. But a fore- 

 sight still greater and nearer to his is manifested by 

 those ants who breed and keep near them animals of 

 different species, not for the sake of their flesh, but 

 for certain secretions, just as man utilises the milk 



' For a brief discussion of the relation of ants to plants generally, 

 see Lubbock's Ants, Bees, and Wasps, 1882, chap. iii. 



