und, and are left there. On
the contrary, in dry and hot weather, when the leaves would get dried
up before they could be conveyed to the nest, the ants, when in
exposed situations, do not go out at all during the hot hours, but
bring in their leafy burdens in the cool of the day and during the
night. As soon as the pieces of leaves are carried in they must be cut
up by the small class of workers into little pieces. I have never seen
the smallest class of ants carrying in leaves! their duties appear to
be inside, cutting them up into smaller fragments, and nursing the
immature ants. I have, however, seen them running out along the paths
with the others; but instead of helping to carry in the burdens, they
climb on the top of the pieces which are being carried along by the
middle-sized workers, and so get a ride home again. It is very
probable that they take a run out merely for air and exercise. The
largest class of what are called workers are, I believe, the directors
and protectors of the others. They are never seen out of the nest,
excepting on particular occasions, such as the migrations of the ants,
and when one of the working columns or nests is attacked, they then
come stalking up, and attack the enemy with their strong jaws.
Sometimes, when digging into the burrows, one of these giants has
unperceived climbed up my dress, and the first intimation of his
presence has been the burying of his jaws in my neck, from which he
would not fail to draw blood. The stately observant way in which they
stalk about, and their great size, compared with the others, always
impressed me with the idea that in their bulky heads lay the brains
that directed the community in their various duties. Many of their
actions, such as that I have mentioned of two relays of workmen
carrying out the ant food, can scarcely be blind instinct. Some of the
ants make mistakes, and carry in unsuitable leaves. Thus grass is
always rejected by them, but I have seen some ants, perhaps young
ones, carrying leaves of grass; but after a while these pieces are
always brought out again and thrown away. I can imagine a young ant
getting a severe ear-wigging from one of the major-domos for its
stupidity.

[Illustration: SECTION THROUGH LEAF-CUTTING ANT'S NEST.]

I shall conclude this long account of the leaf-cutting ants with one
more instance of their reasoning powers.

A nest was made near one of our tramways, and to get to the trees the
ants had to cros