New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
MISS FIELDE AND HER ANTS
GLASS HOUSES OF HER OWN DESIGN. IN
WHICH 500 OF THEM LIVE.
= THEIR NURSERIES, DINING AND SPONGE ROOMS
WHAT SHE HAS DISCOVERED THROUGH
EXPERIMENTS.

There is a tiny village situated in the heart of
this city where five hundred inhabitants pursue
the even tenor Of their way undisturbed by the
hum of ceaseless activity that surrounds them.
These inhabitants ants belonging 10 Miss Adele
Fielde who takes the deepest interest in their wei
fare.
They OF the species known as Stenamma
fulvurr and began life at Cape Cod. where Miss
Fielde secured them. They We're brought to the
city ard installed in quarters which they seem TO
consider are all that be desired. if the cell
ings are only about half inch high and the at
mosphere decidedly humid.
That this colony is peaceful one is due en-
tirey TO the fact that only congenial spirits dwell
In each household. hence every family has its
home and refuses to have anything to do with its
neighbors except 10 kill one OF them should the
opportunity occur
Some of the houses have two and others
three the latter usually being divided into the
food room, otherwise known the dining room;
the nursery and the sponge room, all built on a
level The exterior is long and narrow. In the
large homes entrance is at each end. and en-
trance TO every is effected through more OF
less intricate passage, depending the size OF
the horne and family. Some rooms have sections
screened off into narrow runs Each house is
made OF double thick" glass The piece for the
flooring is laid upon sheet Of white blotting
paper forming a background against which the
may be readily Walls are built OF strips or
double thick glass half inch wide, placed in two
horizontal layers for each side. The doorways are
glass tube through which the ants from the
old dwelling house to new home when desired
The tops Of the walls covered with layer of
Turkish towelling that admits the air required by
. the when the glass roof is laid
II keep a thick layer of blotting paper over the
top exclude the light" said Miss Felde yester-
day a Tribune reporter. For some reason. as
yet unknown light is harmful to the eggs and
young. This is a family living in two room
home" and she lifted the paper. revealing the
Ants hfIsiiy their several duties
THE ANTS AT HOME
This house contains a sponge room and nur-
sery combined, and is connected by entrance
with the dining and living The queen
who is much larger than the average ant, was Just
then busy in the nursery, where she superin-
tending the care OF the young. The workers were
looking after the children for, while the mother
liked stay around and see that things were well
done, she did not attempt TO help The nurses
knew she there. however. and showed IL by
their energy for, despite the high estimation in
which held for their industry, it is a fact
that their work is far better in quality and guam
tity when the ruler is watching. Some of the
workers were taking nap-that is. they were per-
fectly still. resting for period which, f they had
not been disturbed would probably have extended
over several hours.
When Miss Ffelde removed the glass roof so
cisble ant proceeded climb her forehnger. and
walk about on the palm of her hand
''You see he knows me-" said Miss Fielde, as she
olined 10 be pushed OF, and showed every sign Of
his Intention TO remain where he was.
"ordinarily this would sting hand thai
touched him" said Miss Fieide but I cannot
force him inJure if try"
To get the ant in his home IL necessary fol
Miss Felde TO pick him up between her thumb and
forehneer and drop him into the nursery. but he
was determined to come back, the roof put
on 10 prevent his climbing again.
The anthouse is cleaned at least once a week
That is. room Is darkened and the other ex-
posed 20 the light. whereupon the pick up
their children and eggs and hurry the dark room
accompanied by the queen. AS the ants fond OF
moisture. the sponge room. with its small piece OF
sponge in the centre for drink and necessary
humidity, is favorite retreat, where the nurses
workers like TO take the young
1T is q great responsibility TO for the young
and protect them from the onslaught OF possible
enemies from other colonies" said Miss Fielde
THE workers kept constantly busy lick.
ing the young with their tiny tongues to keep
them clean. One day. when drop OF fruit
juice fell or the babies the nurses
showed every symptom of indignation and disgust
Evidently they held hasty consultation for after
standing in excited group they separated, and
one seized the baby. carried it over to the wet
sponge and rubbed IL against the moist surface
until the greater part OF the juice had been re-