290 HYMENOPTERA. 
want of rain ; and^ as the unBnished parts 
would crumble away, they throw down 
all the uncovered cells, and, scattering 
the materials in readiness to receive the 
next moisture, thev retire into the lower 
part of the nest. 
Lucy. But how do they manage about 
shaping their building ? Does one master 
ant, like an architect, lay out the plan 
for the rest to follow ? 
Mother, That has not been ascer- 
tained ; and though they certainly work 
together most harmoniously, it does not 
appear that there is any superintending 
eye ; on the contrary, they make fre- 
quent mistakes ; the following singular 
instance of which will amuse you. Sepa- 
rate divisions of an edifice having been 
rapidly carried up by separate parties, it 
was found, on their approaching each 
other, that, instead of accurately meeting, 
there was a considerable diflference in the 
height of the corresponding ceilings : the 
error was at length perceived ; a consul- 
tation ensued ; the low part was imme- 
