102 A New Leaf Cutting Ant. [ February, 
ter, containing very little of the substance described above. In 
the loose material on the floor of this cell were found living 
forms of minute size, and unknown to me. 
Five inches distant was a’still smaller cell, in which closely 
stowed away, were ants, apparently prisoners. The approach to 
their dungeon had been plugged for the whole distance with the 
yellow sand, so that it could be traced like a yellow streak in 
white candy. 
Three inches below the level of the cells last described was 
another three and a-half inches deep, two and a-half wide by 
three and a-half long. In form it resembled a coffee cup flat- 
tened slightly. I was fortunate enough to approach this one so 
carefully as not to disturb its interior arrangement. Having made 
a pit by the side of it, I carefully cut away the loose sand with a 
large knife until one side was removed, and the wonderful archi- 
tecture within was before my eyes. I ceased work in utter aston- 
ishment. My excitement was intense, and my delight inde- 
scribable. 
The floor was covered with small smooth pebbles. The bulged 
side of the cup was protected by a curtain of yellow sand fully 
a-half inch thick in the middle and tapering to nothing at top and 
bottom. The white sand in which all this wonderful work had 
been done, was packed and smoothed and almost glazed until it 
had become so firm that no jarring would shake a particle from its 
place. 
But what most filled me with wonder was the resemblance of 
the interior to a bee hive. Suspended from a tough root at the 
top of the cell, and nearly filling the entire space, was what 
resembled a honey-comb in all save regularity of form. There 
were several.masses of it hanging side by side as ina hive. In 
place of regular cells, however, were irregular pockets, in which 
the young are reared. 
I cannot tell the reluctance with which I removed this comb, 
nor my regret at the impossibility of preserving it just as it hung. 
However, it is preserved, though not in. form as found, and is 
before me as I write. It has been seen by Dr. McCook, who has 
made a study of the leaf cutting ant of Texas. In his opinion 
the ant I have described is an Atta. He came to the heights and 
investigated a formicary, but was unfortunate in that the day was 
stormy. He succeeded, however, in verifying my observations. 
