Haunts and Hobbies of an Indian Official (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. WHITE ANTS THIS morning--it was towards the end of September--on returning from my ride, I took a stroll through the garden. Half-way down the central path I came on a small mound of earth very much resembling in appearance the crater of a volcano. The mound in shape was circular, about four inches high and eight inches in diameter, and in the centre there was a saucer-like depression; and in the centre again of this depression there was a small hole. From this hole a number of the minutest red-coloured ants were coming out and returning. Each ant that came out carried in his jaws a grain of sandy earth, deposited it on the top of the mound, and then ran rapidly back again into the hole. Although the mound in itself was small, yet, compared with the size of the ants, it was gigantic; and yet it must have all been constructed within the very brief period of two, or at the most two and a half, days. I made sure of this because during the third day previous there had been a heavy fall of rain, and if the mound had then existed the rain would certainly have washed it away. However, not to rely on conjecture, I determined to ascertain by direct observation the rate at which these little creatures could erect their mound. For this purpose I had a small stake driven into the path, to mark the position of the nest; and then I had the entire earth of the mound very carefully removed. I took particular care that none of the ants should be hurt, nor any of the earth get swept into the hole, which, of course, was the entrance to the nest. This done, I sent for a chair, and sat in the shade of a tree to observe what would ensue. In a minute or two the ants commenced to reappear. Each ant, as before, carried in his jaws a minute pellet of sandy earth. This h...