424 



Hmtdbook of Nature-Study 



of one corner, then place the pane on top of the other, resting upon the 

 pieces of wood around the sides. The cover of the nest may be a piece of 

 tin, with a handle soldered to the center, or a board with a screw-eye in the 

 center with which to lift it. There should be a piece of blotter or of very 

 thin sponge, introduced into the nest between the two panes of glass, in a 

 position where it may be reached with a pipette, without removing the 

 upper glass, for it must be kept always damp. 



To establish a colony in this nest proceed as follows: Take a two- 

 quart glass fruit jar and a garden trowel. Armed with these, visit some 

 pasture or meadow near by, and find under some stone, a small colony of 

 ants which have plenty of eggs and larvse. Scoop up carefully eggs, ants, 

 dirt and all and place in the jar, being as careful as possible not to injure 

 the specimens. While digging, search carefully for the queen, which is a 

 larger ant and is sometimes thus found. But if you have plenty of eggs, 

 larvae and pupa, the ants will become very contented in their new nest 

 while taking care of them. After you have taken all the ants desirable, 

 place the cover on the jar, carry them to the Lubbock nest and carefully 

 empty the contents of the fruit jar on top of the board which covers the 

 nest. Of course the furrow around the plank has been filled with water, 

 so the stragglers cannot escape. The ants will soon find the way into the 

 nest through the cut comer of the upper pane of glass, and will transfer 

 their larvae to it because it is dark. After they are in the nest, which 

 should be within two or three hours, remove the dirt on the cover, and the 

 nest is ready for observation. But, since light disturbs the little prison- 

 ers, the cover should be removed only for short periods. 



The Fielde nest is better adapted for a serious study of ants, but it is 

 not so well adapted for the schoolroom as is the Lubbock nest. 



Reference — Ants, W. M. Wheeler. 



A Lubbock ant-nest. 



