42 My ANT FAMILY.

 

large black ants, having dug them-
selves a nice home for the winter in
the hickory-tree, had gone into it, and
had fallen into a state of stupor, from
which they would probably not have
been roused until some time during the
following spring, if they had not come
under my notice. |

As the wood was sawed and split,
great numbers of these ants were thus
turned out of their home and scattered
on the side-walk. I gathered up 4
handful of them, and carried them into
the house. I did not count them; but
I presume there were upwards of fifty.