96 
THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
subsoil, tend in no small degree to determine 
what species of ant shall be met with in any 
given locality. Ants plentiful where the 
silurian strata abound are not represented 
above the trappsan rocks; while still fresh va- 
rieties abound where the tertiaries commence. 
The district examined had an area of about 
five miles radius, but of this space scarcely 
more than a quadrant was carefully explored. 
Yet my finds numbered nearly forty well- 
defined species. What is strange, too, since 
my return to Melbourne I have examined the 
collection at the University, to find that it did 
not contain half-a-dozen of the species I had 
myself met with. This fact will be sufficient 
to show the rich harvest awaiting the labours 
of anyone who will only take the trouble to 
carefully explore almost any given space of 
country in which he may be located. 
Two methods of observation are open to the 
investigator. The ants may be conveniently 
kept in artificial formicaries; or many of the 
experiments may be tried with them while 
they still remain in their natural nests. 
Almost any form of clear glass vessel may 
be used in the former instance. A glass salt 
jar answers admirably. Sir John Lubbock 
constructs shallow cells, consisting of two 
pieces of window glass, about ten inches 
square, and at a distance apart of from one- 
tenth to a quarter of an inch (in fact, just 
sufficiently deep to allow the ants freedom of 
motion,) with slips of wood round the edges, 
the intermediate space being filled up with 
fine sand. These glass nests were either kept 
in shallow boxes with loose glass covers, 
resting on baize, which admitted enough air, 
and yet was impervious to the ants ; or on 
stands either surrounded by water, or by fur, 
with the hairs pointing downwards. 
A very convenient formicarium may be 
constructed by nailing or screwing three 
pieces of wood together, as in the sketch ; 
slips of thin wood are affixed by small brass 
tacks, the edges slightly overlapping inwards. 
Plates of glass are then inserted, and are kept 
in position by the outvvard pressure of the 
earth. A number of these may be placed on 
the same stand, which consists of a thick slab 
of wood, resting on four feet, and having a 
rabbet cut around it. A rim of brass or tin is 
then fixed to the edge, the joints being made 
water-tight with white lead. By exercising a 
little taste, such a formicarium might be placed 
even in a drawing room. 
Experiments with natural nests may be made 
with a view of discovering the nature of ant 
food, their behaviour towards other species and 
strangers to the community, their method of 
swarming, whether they are pugnacious or the 
reverse, if they construct roads, &c. The 
interior arrangement of the colony may be 
generally investigated with the larger species 
by dividing the nest in half and removing one 
portion. The galleries, chambers, &c., will 
then be left bare and become plainly visible. 
The Rev. Mr. Wood divided a nest into two 
parts by sawing down a plate of thick glass. 
This was left in position until the ants had 
repaired damages, when the earth was care- 
fully removed on one side leaving the galleries 
to be plainlysetn through the glass on theother. 
In pursuing my own investigations, I have 
adopted a very simple plan which has proved 
eminently successful. Many of the species 
with which I had to deal were very small. 
They have, too, a habit of concealing their 
nests as much as possible. My custom, there- 
fore, was to go round just after a shower, when 
the ants of nearly' all species are bringing out 
fresh earth. This betray'ed the presence of 
the nests. I then placed a piece of glass over 
the entrance, on that a piece of cloth, and on 
that, brick, stone, or block of wood. In a few 
days the ants would excavate a series of sur- 
face galleries and chambers, bringing up eggs, 
larvae and pupae, which were arranged in 
definite order and could be plainly seen through 
the transparent medium. It is better to use 
glass and cloth; but a great deal may be 
observed by using the stone or brick alone, 
only, in that case, the newly excavated 
chambers are generally disturbed. 
Any one of the methods adopted has its con- 
tingent advantages; what answers, however, 
for one species, fails with another. The inves- 
tigator will do well to avail himself of all the 
contrivances, using the one or the other accord- 
ing to circumstances. The way in which ants 
burrow in the earth may be admirably studied 
in a glass formicarium ; but it must be remem- 
bered that ants so confined, find themselves 
constrained, and in some instances refuse 
altogether to commence making excavations. 
QUERIES AND REPLIES . 
Queries. 
Query No. 18 — What is the best time to 
put on supers with section boxes, and will 
hees take to sections in which combs were 
partly built last season? Gippslander. 
Query No. i 9. — Will some of our readers, 
who use the extractor, state how many frames 
they can extract in a day with u Novice or 
other two-frame extractor P Ed. 
Query No. 20. — On examining my six 
hives, I find only' one is moderately stocked 
with bees, two have barely enough to cover 
one frame, and the other three not much 
better. There is honey in all the combs, and 
I saw brood in three, but none in other three. 
What ought to be done with these stocks ? 
E. 5>., Mornington. 
