years of his life in observing and setting down for the
instruction of others the habits of these insects. He found that ants
of the species _Atta barbara_ store up grains. They utilise plants of
various kinds, but usually fumitory, oats, nettle, various species of
_Veronica_, etc. They procure these grains towards the end of autumn,
collecting them on the soil, or even, when they do not fall in
sufficient quantities, climbing up the plants and gathering them in
position. An ant will, for instance, ascend the stem of a fruiting
plant, of shepherd's-purse, let us say, and select a well-filled but
green pod, mid-way up the stem, those below being ready to shed their
seeds at a touch. Then seizing it in its jaws, and fixing its hind
legs firmly as a pivot, it contrives to turn round and round, and so
to strain the fibres of the fruit-stalk until they snap; it then
patiently backs down the stem. Sometimes two ants combine their
efforts; one, at the base of the peduncle, gnaws at the point of
greatest tension, while the other hauls upon it and twists it. And
sometimes the ants drop the capsules to their companions below,
corresponding with the curious account given by AElian of the way the
spikelets of corn are thrown down "to the people below." In this
labour they display the activity usual in their race, and do not stop
until they have carried away to their barns the amount of provision
they desire. When their wealth is stored up in the nest, the ants pile
up the grains in some hundred little rooms designed for this purpose,
each measuring from seven to eight centimetres in diameter, and three
or four in height; the average granary being about the size of a
gentleman's gold watch. Adding up the quantities of grain divided
between these different barns, it is found that they may be estimated
at about 500 or 600 grammes, which represents a very large number of
meals for such small appetites, and must cost colossal labour if we
take into consideration the size of the workers. But when the harvest
is completed, the _Atta barbara_ have not completed their task; they
are too ingenious to limit themselves to waiting with crossed legs for
the moment to come when they may enjoy their labour, without
considering the damage that may arise. Their first care is to prevent
the grains from germinating for some weeks. How they obtain this
result is not exactly known, but it is certain that germination does
not take place, although all the