NEST OF WOOD-ANT. 215 



This, however, is only half the nest, for the galleries and 

 tunnels extend far beneath the surface of the earth, and have 

 sundry enlarged portions or chambers wherein the immature 

 pupae may lie during their period of helplessness. 



Owing to the very loose structure of the upper nest, and the 

 tendency of the earth to fall into the galleries of the lower 

 nest, it is very difficult to obtain a trustworthy view of the 

 interior. Perhaps I may here be allowed to extract a passage 

 from my " Insects at Home," the description of the nest and 

 its interior having been written almost on the spot : — 



" I have, however, succeeded in obtaining an excellent view 

 into the interior of a Wood-ants' nest, though it was but a 

 short one. Accompanied by my friend Mr. H. J. B. Han- 

 cock, I was visiting some remarkably fine Wood- ants' nests 

 near Bagshot. We took with us a large piece of plate glass, 

 placed it edgewise on the top of an Ant-hill, and, standing one 

 at each side, cut the nest completely in two, leaving the glass 

 almost wholly buried in it. 



" After the expiration of a few weeks, during which time 

 the ants could repair damages, we returned to the spot, and, 

 with a spade, removed one side of the nest as far as the glass, 

 which then served as a window through which we could look 

 into the nest. It was really a wonderful sight. 



" The Ant-hill was honeycombed into passages and cells, in 

 all of which the inhabitants were hurriedly running about, 

 being alarmed at the unwonted admission of light into their 

 dwellings. In some of the chambers the pupae were treasured, 

 and these chambers were continually entered by Ants, which 

 picked up the helpless pupae, and carried them to other parts of 

 the nest where the unwelcome light had not shown itself. 



" Unfortunately this view lasted only a short time. Owing 

 to the partial decomposition of the vegetable substances of 

 which the Ants' nest is made, the interior is always hot and 

 always moist. Now, the day on which we visited the nest 

 happened to be a cold one, and, in consequence, the moisture of 

 the nest was rapidly condensed on the inner surface of the 

 glass, and in a few minutes completely hid the nest from view, 

 leaving me only time to make a rapid sketch. Unfortunately 

 some one discovered the plate of glass and stole it. 



"Next time that I examine a Wood-ants' nest, I shall take 



