Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1898 — ANTHOUSES IN AUSTRALIA. [ARTICLE]

ANTHOUSES IN AUSTRALIA.

Mounds In Which Millions of the Insects Live. One mound In particular, a groined columnar structure, was eighteen feet high. This was not far from Fort Darwin. The discoverer believes Unit originally the mound was conical In shape. The sides were smooth. It has evidently been In use for many years, and the columnar effect noticeable, he believes, Is due to the fact that tile ants, Incessantly traveling the pathways up and down the mound, .produced the grooves that are seen and resulted in giving the effect of a columnar tonnation. Tlte entrance to the mound, examination showed, had varied in location, for there was distinct evidence that apertures of tills sort had been walk'd up In several Instances. The Interior of the mound referred to showed as much as any tiling the remarkable instinct of the ants. It was divided up very much after the fashion of the tall buildings which are now becoming so common, w ith an Immense court within the structure itself -that is, there were hundreds of tiny cells built in from galleries which were terraced one above the other. The galleries were connecttsl by paths or stairways, each of these being constructed with architectural exactness. The cells remind one, the explorer said of the cell of a monk. The earth in each Instance was as hard and smooth ns marble, and bore evidence,of long continued usage. A portion of tile ground floor, or basement, of tiio mound had been divided Into store rooms, and here It was evident the ants hnd carefully packed away the provender which they hnd sc-

cured from various points about. While naturalists and students of the intelligence of.lnsects and animals have long been inclined to believe that the ant exceeded in at least keenness of Instinct ull other creatures of its kind. It has never been conclusively shown until demonstrattsl by the just made announcement of Mr. Saville-Kent.