UNDER THE MAPLES. 123 



caded at all times save when the ants are actively en- 

 gaged at harvest or other work. 



Upon excavating a formicary in July, I found several 

 nearly empty chambers, some near the surface of the 

 ground, others scattered irregularly about to the depth 

 of three feet, where I came to several small rooms or 

 granaries stored with seed. I noticed one chamber 

 much larger than the rest, which from all appearances 

 was the dining-room, as it contained some partly con- 

 sumed insects. The ants were in great consternation 

 over the loss of their city, running in every direction, 

 and carrying the larvae and pupae, while many of them 

 were buried beneath the ruins. It appears heartless 

 and cruel to destroy one of these neatly built cities, 

 doubtless the work of years and representing the labor 

 of many thousand individuals. And, in fact, very little 

 can be learned of the interior of such a formicary, even 

 with the most careful handling, owing to the nature of 

 the soil in which it is built. The most satisfactory way 

 of obtaining knowledge of the interior of a formicary 

 is to cut into one of some species that builds iu wood, 

 and take out sections that can be carried home ; and at 

 the same time secure a colony of the ants, together 

 with the larvae and pupae. This I accomplished with 

 a species of Aphcenogaster, nearly related to the har- 

 vesting ants. The blocks were cut through several 

 chambers, but fitted together perfectly. The ants were 

 soon domiciled, and came out and walked timidly about 

 among their new surroundings. I now placed dry 



