82 



CUKIOUS ilUMES AND THEIR TEIn'ANTS. 



CARPENTER ANTS. 



HOW THEY BUILD THEIR HOUSES. 



If an old tree or stump or log in the woods is 

 watched carefully during the warm weather months, 

 little black heads may often be seen thrust out from 

 openings in or about the bark. Each of these heads 

 belongs to a carpenter ant. Tlie busy little creatures 

 are bringing out the chippings left by the workmen 



inside that are carving 

 out rooms and galleries 

 for the future use of 

 the family. The chip- 

 pings brought out are 

 dropped to the earth 

 beneath, and are taken 

 by ants stationed below 

 and carried off, to be 

 dumped in some out-of- 

 the-way place. 



The dwelling place, 

 or formicary, as it is 

 called, of these ants 

 shows a series of floors 

 laid out in small and 



Interior of dwelling of carpenter ant. 



large rooms and galleries, separated from each other 

 by arches, pillars, and partitions. As ants can run 

 up and down a perpendicular surface almost if not 



