No. 414.] NESTS OF AMERICAN ANTS. 445 
observations extending from August 30 to September 4 are 
condensed in the following notes : 
August 30. The round cell, which remained undisturbed all 
day yesterday, was still intact at 8 o'clock this morning. By 
noon, however, the Myrmicas had torn down its wall in several 
places, and three of them were found in the cell, submitting to 
a vigorous shampoo. By 8 o'clock in the evening the circular 
nest had been rebuilt. The opening at x had been closed and a 
new one opened at ;; (upper left-hand corner of cell in Fig. 9). 
August 31. Almost an exact repetition of yesterday's 
performance. ; 
September I. .'This morning the reconstructed Leptothorax 
cell is smaller. Its upper entrance, » and the two subter- 
ranean entrances, z z, have not been changed. The ants have 
sunk the pupz and eggs to a greater depth in the earthen floor 
of the nest, so that they are almost in contact with the board. 
The nest was not molested by the Myrmicas during the day. 
September 2, The cell this morning has further decreased in 
size but is still intact. Its cavity is not more than 7 mm. in 
diameter, so that the Leptothorax family is much crowded. The 
two subterranean entrances at zz are still in use but the upper 
entrance has been shifted to mm (lower left-hand corner of cell in 
Fig. 9). The Myrmicas still leave the cell unmolested. 
September 3. To-day, too, the Leptothorax were left in peaceful 
possession of their cell. Many of them went out into the gal- 
leries from timeto time to shampoo the Myrmicas and solicit food, 
which they then distributed to their queen and to the few workers 
remaining at home. During the day the upper entrance at m 
was closed so that the wall of the nest was everywhere in close 
contact with the roof-pane. The ants still entered and left the 
chamber through the two underground entrances at 7 7. 
September 4. At 8 a.m. the Leptothorax nest was unchanged, 
but by noon its circular walls had grown perceptibly thinner, as 
the Myrmica workers had again taken to removing the earth 
from the outer surfaces. The nest was now shaped like a volcano 
with sloping sides and the guest ants inhabiting the crater. By 
5 P.M. the Myrmicas had made two breaches in the walls. The 
nest remained in this condition throughout the evening. 
