ANTS— GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. 
131 
could never have got below to help in the all-important task 
of preparing passages and chambers for the accommodation of 
the larvae. These numerous and funnel-shaped entrances ad- 
mitted of the simultaneous descent and ascent of large numbers 
of ants, and the work progressed with proportionate rapidity. 
After a few days only three entrances, and eventually only one, 
remained open. 
Concerning the harvesting ant of Texas, the following 
quotation may be made, under the present head, from 
MacCook. After remarking that these ants always select 
sunny places wherein to build their nests, or disks, he 
goes on to say that within a few paces of his tent — 
A nest was made which was partly shaded by a small mes- 
quite tree that stood just beyond the margin of the clearing. 
The sapling had probably grown up after the location of the 
community, and for some reason had been permitted to remain 
until too old to kill off. The shadow thrown upon the pave- 
ment was very slight; nevertheless, fifteen feet distant a new 
formicary was being established. The path from the ranch to 
the spring ran between this new hill and the old one, and ants 
were in communication between the two. An opening had 
been made in the ground, and the beginnings of a new formicary 
were quite apparent. This is the only instance observed of 
what seemed an attempt at colonising or removing, and I as- 
sociated it with the presence of the small but growing shadow 
of the young tree. 
He also gives us a still more remarkable observation, 
which indeed, I must candidly say, does not appear to me 
credible. I am, therefore, glad to add that it does not 
appear very distinctly from the account whether the 
author himself made the observation, or had it narrated 
to him by his guide. But here is the observation in his 
own words : — 
While studying the habits of the cutting ant I was tempted 
to make a night visit to a farm some distance from camp, by 
the farmer’s story of depredations made by these insects upon 
certain plants and vegetables. A long, dark tramp, a blind 
and vain search among the fields, compelled us at last to call 
out the countryman from his bed. He led us directly to one 
of the cutting ants 1 nests, which was overshadowed by a 
young peach tree. ‘ There they be, sir,’ cried he triumphantly, 
