HARVESTING ANTS. 
107 
the process go on year after year on the same ant-farms $ 
and adds, — 
There can be no doubt of the fact that the particular species 
of grain- bearing grass mentioned above is intentionally planted. 
In farmer-like manner the ground upon which it stands is care- 
fully divested of all other grasses and weeds during the time it is 
growing. When it is ripe the grain is taken care of, the dry 
stubble cut away and carried off, the paved area being left un- 
encumbered until the ensuing autumn, when the same ‘ ant-rice 9 
reappears within the same circle, and receives the same agri- 
cultural attention as was bestowed upon the previous crop — and 
so on year after year, as I know to be the case, in all situations 
when the ant’s settlements are protected from graminivorous 
animals. 
In a second letter Dr. Linceeum, in reply to an inquiry 
from Mr. Darwin whether he supposed that the ants plant 
seeds for the ensuing crop, says : — 
I have not the slightest doubt of it. And my conclusions 
have not been arrived at from hasty or careless observation, nor 
from seeing the ants do something that looked a little like it, 
and then guessing at the results. I have at all seasons watched 
the same ant-cities during the last twelve years, and I know 
that what I stated in my former letter is true. I visited the 
same cities yesterday, and found the crop of ant rice growing 
finely, and exhibiting also the signs of high cultivation, and not 
a blade of any other kind of grass or weed was to be seen 
within twelve inches of the circular row of ant-rice. — ( Journ . 
Linn. jSoc., vol. vi. p. 30-L) 
Now, MacOook found the ant-rice growing as described, 
but only on some nests. Why it does not grow upon all 
the nests he does not understand. So far, then, as his 
observations go, they confirm those of Dr. Linceeum ; but 
he does 6 not believe that the ants deliberately sow a crop 
as Linceeum asserts ; ? he thinks 6 that they have for some 
reason found it to their advantage to permit the aristida 
to grow upon their disks, while they clear off all other 
herbage ; ? but finally concludes 4 that there is nothing 
unreasonable, nor beyond the probable capacity of the 
emmet intellect, in the supposition that the crop is actually 
sown. Simply, it is the Scotch verdict— 66 Not proven.” * 
