^TheextracWit^wMc^w^naira 



of Texas called the Agricultural Ant, jfld is perhaps tlie 



most remarkahle of all the stories which Mr. Wood re- 



counts. He gives it on the authority and in the language 



of Dr. Lincecnm, a correspondent of Dr. Darwin: 



The species which I have named Agricidtural, is a large, 

 hrownish ant. It dwells in what may he termed paved cities, 

 and like a thrifty, dilicrcnt, provident farmer, makes suitable 

 andtiraelv arrangements for the coming season. When It 

 has selected a situation for its habitation, if on ordinary dry 

 ground, it bores a hole, around which it raises the surface 

 three and sometimes six inches, forming alow, circular mound, 

 having a verv gentle inclination from the center to the outer 

 border, which on an average is three or four feet from the 

 entrance. But if the location is chosen on low. flat, wet land, 

 liable to inundation, though the ground maybe perfectly dry 

 at the time the ant sets to work, it nevertheless elevates the 

 mound in the form of a pretty sharp cone to the hi^^ht ot 15 to 

 20 inches or more, and makes the entrance near the summit. 

 Around the mound, in either case, the ant clears the ground ol 

 all obstructions, and levels and smooths the surface to the 

 distance of three or four feet from the gate of the city, giving 

 the space the appearance of a handsome pavement, as at 



really is. , , « x-u* « 



1 Within this paved area, not a blade of any green thing is 



allowed to grow, except a single species of gram-bearing 

 grass. Having planted this crop in a circle around, and two 

 or three feet from the center of the mound, the insect tends 

 and cultivates it with constant care, cutting away all other 

 grasses and weeds that may spring up among it, andean 

 around outside the farm circle, to the extent of one or two feet 

 or more. The culavated grass grows luxuriantly, and or o- 

 duces a heavy crop of small, white, flinty seeds, which, under 

 the microscope, very closely resemble ordinary nee. When 

 ripe, it is caref ully harvested, and carried bv the vrorkers, 

 chaff and all, into the granary cells, where it is divested ot the 

 chaff and packed away. The chaff is taken out and thiown 

 beyond the limits of the paved area. ^ 



Baring protracted wet weather, it sometimes happens 

 that the "provision stores become damp, and are liable to 

 sprout and spoil. In this case, on the first fine day, the ants 

 bring out the damp and damaged grain, and expose it to the 

 sun till It is dry, when they carry it back and pack away all 

 the sound seeds, leaving those that had sprouted to waste. 



The illustrations of this work are carefully prepared, 

 " and may be fully trusted. 



