NYMENOPTERA. 38d 
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The group of Mason ants contains a great number of varieties : 
_ the Ashy-black ant ( Formica fusca, Fig. 363), the Brown, the Yel- 
low (Lormica flava), the Blood-red, the Russety (Polyergus ru- 
fescens), the Black, the Miner (Formica cunicularia), the Turf-ant, 
&e. All these species employ a mortar, more or less fine, in raising 
their hillocks, at the same time that they hollow out their under- 
ground dwellings. The Jet ant (Lormica Juliginosa) excavates 
wood ; hollowing out its labyrinth in the trunk of a tree with con- 

Fig. 363.—Ashy-black Ant (formica fusca). Male, female, and worker. 
summate skill. The Red ant (Myrmica ruba) plies, according to 
circumstances, the trade of a mason or excavator. 
The masons work when they can profit by the rain or by the 
evening dew, to make their mortar. They only go out after 
sunset, or when a fine rain has wetted their roof. Then they 
set to work. They roll up pellets of earth, bring them back in 
their mandibles, and stick them on to those places where the 
building was left unfinished. From all sides the earth- workers 


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Fig. 364.—Ashy Ant. Male, worker, and female. 
nay be seen arriving, laden with materials. All these are 
yustling, hurrying, busy, but always in the greatest order, and with 
perfect understanding among themselves. Every part of the 
uilding is going on at the same time. The apartments spring 
p one above another, and the edifice visibly rises. The rain, the 
un, and the wind consolidate and harden the building so 
unningly contrived by these industrious workers, who have 
eceived from God alone their marvellous science. With no other 
silo 

