Page:An Account of English Ants (Gould, 1747, IA accountofenglish00goul).pdf/38

16 The Hill and Jet Ants admit of ome Difference in the manner of the Building. For as they generally inhabit the Bottoms of old Trees, the Surfaces of the Trees are ufficient to prevent the Ditilling of any Water into their Cells. As therefore they do not want, they are not at the Trouble of making direct Channels to drain it off. In mot other Repects the Architecture is the ame, coniting of a number and Variety of Apartments formed with a great deal of Curioity, and all communicating with one another.

All thee Works the ingenious Ants carry on by the Aitance of their double Saw and the Hooks placed at the Extremities of them. And it is wonderful to oberve with how great Celerity they mannage thee Implements, and finih the Structure. They firt of all grate or cut the Earth into little Particles with their Saws, and afterwards remove it between their Hooks, which anwer the End of a Pair of Pincers or Forceps. The Proces and manner of their Working might be eaily oberved by depoiting ome Ants with a lump of Moit Earth under a Glas. It may be proper to moiten the Earth, or it will be too hard for their Saws. It