day was over. If they were not eaten, 
they soon starved to death. 
BEGINNING OF THE ANT COLONY 
Although her mate died, our princess 
was very busy. Her honeymoon had 
carried her far from her old home, and 
she must look for a place to build a new 
one. When she found a spot to her 
liking, she began to dig a hole in the 
ground. 
Very soon the new Queen found that 
the wings that had carried her on her 
wedding flight were heavy and uncom¬ 
fortable. They had served their purpose. 
Now they were in the way, so she broke 
them off. 
Little by little she burrowed deeper 
and deeper into the ground. When she 
was deep enough, she sealed the opening 
to her nest. There in the dark she curled 
up and waited. She was preparing to 
lay her eggs. 
26 
