Note 4 — CHAP. I. THE ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS.
James Rawlins Johnson translation
De Azara informs us, that during the inundation of the low districts in South America, when the ant-hills, which are usually about three feet in height, are completely under water, the ants avail themselves of an ingenious contrivance, to prevent their being carried to any distance from their habitation. With this view, and for their greater security, they collect into a compact mass, and keep firm hold of each other, previously attaching one of the extremities to some neighbouring plant, or fixed point of support, leaving the other end free and floating on the surface of the water, as long as the inundation (which usually lasts a few days) continues.—T.