UNDER ^THE MAPLES. 121 



than some would have us believe. Naturalists have 

 given us the impression that no harvesting ants are to 

 be found at the North. They are mistaken. Familiar 

 as I am with those of the South, I have never found a 

 more interesting species than one at the North — Phei- 

 dole pennsylvanica — a large colony whose subterranean 

 city is beneath the spreading branches of a maple in 

 near proximity to my house, affording an excellent op- 

 portunity to observe its habits. 



The colony is composed of males and females and 

 two sets of neuters, consisting of soldiers and workers, 

 each set widely differing from the other in looks and 

 occupation. The soldiers are at once recognized by 

 their superior size and large heads, and they take no 

 part in the ordinary work of the community. The 

 workers are much smaller than the soldiers, and, as their 

 name indicates, they are the architects, food providers, 

 and nurses of the community. They gather various 

 grains and seeds, which they store in underground 

 rooms, usually below the frost line, which indicates that 

 the grain is housed mostly for winter use ; this idea is 

 further confirmed by the fact of the great quantity of 

 shells and chaff of seeds which they bring out when 

 their city is undergoing its first thorough spring clean- 

 ing. 



In what way the seeds are prepared so that they may 

 be made into available food is something of a mystery, 

 as the ants take all nourishment in a liquid form. I 

 have noticed that they are partial to those which yield 



