effort of each, has certainly its
inconveniences for the common work. Badly-concerted operations may not
succeed, and Huber witnessed an accident due to this cause.[105] Two
walls facing each other were to be united by an arch. A foolish worker
had begun to form a horizontal ledge on the summit of one of the walls
without paying attention to the fact that the other wall was very much
higher. By continuing the project the ceiling would have come against
the middle of the opposite ceiling instead of resting on its summit.
Another ant passes, examines affairs with an intelligent air, and
evidently considers that this sort of work is absurd. Without
consideration for the _amour-propre_ of its unskilful fellow-citizen,
it demolishes its work, raises the wall that is too low, and re-makes
the construction correctly in the presence of the observer. If this
incident reveals inconceivable thoughtlessness in one of the members
of this serious republic, it also brings to light the judgment,
reflection, and decision of which they are capable, as well as a
freedom which cannot be found in the works of instinct.

[105] _Recherches sur les Moeurs des Fourmis indigenes_,
pp. 47, 48.

This _Formica fusca_ sometimes finds itself in the presence of other
difficulties. It may happen that the hall to be roofed is too large
and the arch too considerable to allow of the cohesion of the
materials employed. The insects soon become aware of the existence of
this embarrassing state of things and remedy it in various ways, either
by hastily constructing pillars in the centre of the too large room,
or by some other method. Ebrard describes an artifice he has seen
employed, which shows to what an extent ants can quickly appreciate
and take advantage of the most unforeseen circumstances.[106] A worker
was labouring to cover a large cell; two prominences, parts of
opposite walls, were advancing towards each other, but there was still
a space of from twelve to fifteen millimetres between them, and it
seemed no longer possible to burden the two sides without risking a
general downfall. The little mason was much disturbed. A graminaceous
plant was growing near. The ant seemed anxious to take advantage of
it, for it went to it and climbed up the stalk. After having examined
and devised, it set about curving it in the direction of the edifice.
To attain this object, it placed a little mass of moist earth on the
extremity of the leaf, and fixed