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     The extract with which we shall close concerns an insect of Texas called the Agricultural Ant, and is perhaps the most remarkable of all the stories which Mr. Wood recounts. He gives it on the authority and in the language of Dr. Lincecnm, a correspondent of Dr. Darwin: 

  The species which I have named [[italics]] Agricultural, [[/italics]] is a large, brownish ant. It dwells in what may be termed paved cities, and like a thrifty, diligent, provident farmer, makes suitable and timely arrangements for the coming season. When it has selected a situation for its habitation, if on ordinary dry ground , it bores a hole, around which it raises the surface three and sometimes six inches, forming a low, circular mound, having a very gentle inclination from the center to the outer border, which on an average is three or four feet from the entrance. But if the location is chosen on low, flat, wet land, liable to inundation, though the ground may be perfectly dry at the time the ant sets to work, it nevertheless elevates the mound in the form of a pretty sharp cone to the hight of 15 to 20 inches or more, and makes the entrance near the summit. Around the mound, in either case, the ant clears the ground of all obstructions, and levels and smooths the surface to the distance of three or four feet from the gate of the city, giving the space the appearance of a handsome pavement, as it really is. 
     Within this paved area, not a blade of any green things is allowed to grow, except a single species of grain-bearing grass. Having planted this crop in a circle around, and two or thee feet from the center of the mound, the insect tends and cultivates it with constant care, cutting away all other grasses and weeds that may spring up among it, and all around outside the farm circle, to the extant of one or two feet or more. The cultivated grass grows luxuriantly, and produces a heavy crop of small, white, flinty seeds, which, under the microscope, very closely resemble ordinary rice. When ripe, it is carefully harvested, and carried by the workers, chaff and all, into the granary cells, where it is divested of the chaff and packed away. The chaff it taken out and thrown beyond the limits of the paved area. 
     During protracted wet weather it sometimes happens that the provision stores become damp, and are liable to sprout and spoil. In this case, on the first fine day, the ants bring out the damp and damaged grain, and expose it to the sun till it is dry, when they carry it back and pack away all the sound seeds, leaving those that had sprouted to waste. 

     The illustrations of this work are carefully prepared, and may be fully trusted.