Invertebrates The Lubbock Ant Nest 
boiled yolk of egg, and the ant nurses brought the 
larve to this and dumped them down around the 
edges of it; there they nibbled industriously until I 
could see the yellow of the egg extending down the 
centers of their little transparent bodies. 
We should note how carefully an ant nurse lifts the 
babies in her jaws. Later, when the larvee change to 
pupz, and are hard-shelled, and are about the size of 
a grain of wheat, the ant nurses take hold of the loose 
outside skin, as we might carry a baby by its clothes. 
The ant nurses spend much time in licking the larvee 
and pupz, thus keeping them very clean; and when 
the young ant comes forth from the pupa skin, quite 
pale, and with cramped legs and antenne, the nurse 
will take hold and straighten out the legs, and pat 
the youngster, and lift it carrying it about if neces- 
sary, and feed it from her own mouth, in fact, doing 
everything that a tender mother nurse should do. 
One of the things we must particularly notice is the 
way the ants keep their nests clean. They pile all of 
their refuse in one corner, and as far as possible from 
the brood. We often see ants asleep. They seem as 
motionless as if they were dead, but when they awake 
they are lively enough. If we are lucky enough to 
find a queen in the nest, we may be able to observe 
the tender care given her by her ladies in waiting, who 
feed her, and lick her clean, and show much interest 
in her welfare. 
In observing the ants we should remember that it 
disturbs them very much to have the light let in upon 
them, therefore we should remove one cover only, and 
for a short time. If we simply leave one-half the 
nest exposed, then we may see the ants lift the larve 
and pupe and carry them safely to the dark side. 
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