Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter xiv observations on ants as far back as one may search through the entomological literature of the past, there will be found records of ant behavior. Ever since man has been civilized to the degree of recording events, he has realized how wonderful is the highly organized social life of these insects. So much has been said in fact, regarding their actions, that it has become difficult indeed to record anything new, and all but impossible to relate any of their known activities in a new enough manner to be entertaining. It is strange, however, that no one has attempted to bring us face to face with ants in their daily life, in such a way that it is unnecessary to depend upon the imagination for the actual picture. Poets and artists have sketched them and sung their praises, scientists have gone minutely into the significance of their behavior, yet who has honestly given the camera its chance? With this idea in view I have gathered together the material for this chapter. However meagre the results, they have been dearly bought by many failures and experiences that can be only realized by one who has worked in the field of insect photography. Let us wander out for a time into the lowly world of ants, down among the grass and earth, or perhaps in the heart of some aged and broken tree of other days. Let us live among these creatures themselves, watch their activities and perhaps discover something new. There, at the base of the old maple, where its trunk enters the ground, is a tiny pile of wooden pellets. Some five feet above, a carlog penter antl thrusts her head from a crack in the ancient bark. In her jaws is a bit of wood debris from the work of enlarging the nest within, where other individuals of her kind are cutting away the...
