THE BROWN ANT 
79 
instinctively make, all building operations would be stopped 
during a drought, whereas, by descending to the cellars or 
crypts of the mansion, the ants can obtain sufficient clay for 
ordinary work. 
In order to watch the ants closer, Huber constructed a kind 
of vivarium in which they could work, and supplied them with 
earth, sand, and other necessaries. As, in this artificial state of 
existence, the insects could not procure moisture from the depths 
of the earth, moisture from other sources was necessary. When- 
ever the insects had ceased to work, they could almost always 
be induced to renew their labours by dipping a stiff brush in 
water, and striking the hand upon it in such a manner that the 
water descended like very fine rain upon the earth. As soon 
as the formerly quiescent ants felt the grateful shower, they 
regained their activity, ran about with renewed energy, and set 
to work upon the soil, moulding it into little pellets, and testing 
each tiny ball with their antennae before they applied it to the 
purposes for which it was made. 
While some of the ants were engaged in this task, which must 
be considered as analogous to brickmaking as practised by man- 
kind, others were scooping out shallow hollows in the clay floor, 
the little ridges that were left standing being the foundation of 
the new walls. On these were dabbed the earthen pellets, and 
adjusted by means of the mandibles or by pressure of the fore 
feet, thus receiving compactness and uniformity. The most 
difficult part of such a task is the formation of the ceiling, but 
the ants do not appear to be at all embarrassed by so formidable 
an undertaking, but can lay ceilings of two inches in diameter 
with perfect certainty. The method of constructing the ceiling 
is by moulding the clay pellets into each angle of the chamber 
and also to the top of the pillars. As fast as one row of pellets 
becomes dry, a second is added ; and the insects perform this 
delicate duty with such accuracy, that although so many centres 
are employed, the parts always coincide in the proper spots. 
The peculiar kneading and biting to which the clay pellets are 
subjected makes them exceedingly tenacious, so that they adhere 
strongly on the slightest contact. 
As is well known, the ants do not retain their wings for any 
