Wake} 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
Vol. VIII.—SEPTEMBER, 1874.—No. 9. 
TTBS ORMYOD TD 
THE AGRICULTURAL ANT.* 
BY DR. G. LINCECUM. 
Since my return from Mexico, I have discovered several traits 
in the character of the Myrmica molefaciens that I had not noticed 
before. In fact, the circumstances that have developed the facts 
Tam about to notice had not transpired. 
In 1848, the year I came to Long Point, there was but one 
agricultural ant city within a mile of the place. This nest was 
Situated in a nearly barren little spot on top of an elevation, 
underlaid with stratified sandstone. Here there was but little 
stass and weeds to interfere with their seed collecting labors. 
The ant rice which they so carefully cultivate was flourishing in a 
regular circle near the outer border, but inside of the pavement. 
There were little patches of the same grass scattered about on the 
little glade which had doubtless been planted there by some exper- 
‘enced ant, for it had been neatly cleared of all other vegetables, 
m fact cultivated by them. 
_ ~e entire surrounding country consists of very rich black 
_ Prairie soil, and was bearing a very heavy coat of cowfodder 
chy In this dense coat of grass the mound builder could not 
travel; but was content to confine himself to a single city in the 
: ‘pen district, until a road that passed near the pavement had been 
: “amped out through the deep grass. This occurred about two 
* Communicated to the Smithsonian Institution, P ed by Pp 
fessor Henry, 
af 
 ‘Sotence 7 20°ording to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by the PEABODY ACADEMY OF 
: j in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
AMER. NATURALIST, VOL. VIIL. 33 (513) 
