1162 Miarvels of the Universe 
removed her wings, digs down into the earth, and closes up the opening. She gradually brings up 
her first brood of some twelve very small, timid workers. In the spring the workers open up the 
nest, but are careful to conceal the entrance with small pebbles and bits of stick, which look as if 
they might have been brought together by the wind. It is not until the second year, when the large 
workers are produced, that the ants begin to cut down the vegetation around the nest and establish 
the circular discs. These discs increase in size as more workers are produced. The discs are evidently 
for the purpose of ensuring as much dryness as possible, to help to prevent the germination of the 
seeds. The grubs of the ants are fed with portions of crushed seeds, which the workers first coat 
with saliva to ensure the converting of the starch contained in the seeds into sugar. The sting of 
this ant is exceedingly painful. 
The most recent study of these ants in nature, seems to point out that the intentional planting 
of the seeds by the ants has been much exaggerated, even if it is not entirely erroneous. Wheeler 
writes in 1910: “* The Texas Harvester has attracted no little attention on account of Lincecum’s 
THE AGRICULTURAL ANT. 
A section of the underground nest showing the galleries and rooms arranged in stories. In the centre an Ant is seen 
working at the extension of one of the chambers. 
statement that it actually sows the seeds of the ‘ ant-rice’ around the periphery of its discs or 
mounds, and cultivates the crop in addition to harvesting and storing it in its granaries. 
“Tf the nests of this ant can be studied during the cool winter months—and this is the only time 
to study them leisurely, as the cold subdues the fiery stings of their inhabitants—the seeds which 
the ants have garnered in many of their chambers will often be found to have sprouted. Some- 
times, in fact, the chambers are literally stuffed with dense wads of seedling grasses and other plants. 
On sunny days, the ants may often be seen removing these seeds when they have sprouted too far 
to be fit for food, and carrying them to the refuse-heap, which is always at the periphery of the 
crater, or cleared earthen disc. Here the seeds, thus rejected as inedible, often take root, and in the 
spring form an are or a complete circle of growing plants around the nest. Since the ant feeds 
largely, though by no means exclusively, on grass seeds, and since, moreover, the seeds of Aristida 
are a very common and favourite article of food, it is easy to see why this grass should pre- 
dominate in the circle.” 
THE END 
