42 SIR PETER EADE ON “ MY CITY GARDEN.” 
the edge of the gravel path, where this abuts upon the grass sward, 
and it is noticeable that almost the whole of these are placed on 
the easterly edge of this. From these nests, or centres, very little 
use is made of the adjacent grass territory, but from nearly all 
a track is made across the gravel path to its opposite (westerly) 
side, where either a hole is made into a small fresh home, or 
a semi-tunnel is made through the grass edging on to and into the 
earth of the flower-border beyond. There appears to be no attempt 
to tunnel in the firm gravel path, but the incessant racing backward 
and forward in the same line very soon (as Sir J ohn Lubbock — now 
Lord Avebury — has pointed out) makes a well-trodden road, along 
which they follow each other in rapid succession. 
As to their hour of rising in the morning for work, I cannot 
speak from personal observation. But as Solomon holds them out 
as an example to those inclined unduly to keep their beds, I conclude 
that their motto is, “Early to rise.” But I can say that the 
opposite half of this proverb, namely, “ Early to bed,” does not 
apply to them, for, at least in the warm weather, they do certainly 
often work until late at night. 
It is very interesting to watch these Ants at work, and to note 
their activity and energy and strength. An Ant is “ but a little 
creature,” but he is certainly able to perform a large amount of 
physical work. And especially is this seen in the way he builds 
up those little heaps of earth known as Ant-hills. I have had 
many of these under observation, and the rapidity with which they 
re-appear after injury by pressure or a heavy rain-storm is very 
remarkable, twenty-four hours, or even less, being often sufficient 
for their complete restoration. They are of varying form, but 
some are perfectly conical, with a circular hole at the top exactly 
like that of some N orfolk ‘ kilns ’ used for the burning of bricks. 
Others are irregular, or flattened and spongy, with several holes. 
But it would seem that the varying shapes are largely due to the 
special conditions under which they are made. 
I have often watched these little creatures at work upon their 
‘ heaps, and have noted how these are gradually built up of 
a §S re £> a tions of single grains of earth or sand, which evidently have 
been dug out grain by grain from the earth, where the excavation 
is going on, and are then brought in the Ant’s mouth to the 
surface, and to the top of the rising earth-heap. They are then 
