274 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



indeed, is one of the most essential parts, and we 

 cannot follow a more delightful guide than the 

 younger Huber, in detailing its formation. 



" The labourers " he says, " of which the colony 

 is composed not only work continually on the out- 

 side of their nest, but, differing very essentially from 

 other species, who willingly remain in the interior, 

 sheltered from the sun, they prefer living in the open 

 air, and do not hesitate to carry on, even in our pre- 

 sence, the greater part of their operations. 



" To have an idea how the straw or stubble-roof is 

 formed, let us take a view of the ant-hill at its origin, 

 when it is simply a cavity in the earth. Some of its 

 future inhabitants are seen wandering about in 

 search of materials fit for the exterior work, with 

 which, though rather irregularly, they cover up the 

 entrance ; whilst others are employed in mixing the 

 earth, thrown up in hollowing the interior, with frag- 

 ments of wood and leaves, which are every mo- 

 ment brought in by their fellow-assistants ; and this 

 gives a certain consistence to the edifice, which in- 

 creases in size daily. Our little architects leave here 

 and there cavities, where they intend constructing 

 the galleries which are to lead to the exterior, and as 

 they remove in the morning the barriers placed at the 

 entrance of their nest the preceding evening, the pas- 

 sages are kept open during the whole time of its con- 

 struction. We soon observed the roof to become con- 

 vex ; but we should be greatly deceived did we con- 

 sider it solid. This roof is destined to include many 

 apartments or stories. Having observed the mo- 

 tions of these little builders through a pane of glass 

 adjusted against one of their habitations, I am thence 

 enabled to speak with some degree of certainty upon 

 the manner in which they are constructed. I ascer- 

 tained, that it is by excavating, or mining the under 

 portion of their edifice, that they form their spacious 



