352 
ANT. 
is a well-known inhabitant of our fields and gar- 
dens, residing in great numbers beneath mole-bills 
and other elevated spots. It is of a brownisli black 
colour, and of a glossy or polished surface. The 
eggs of this species are deposited early in the 
spring, and are extremely small, and of a white 
colour. From these ai'e hatched the larvic, which 
are of a thickish form, destitute of legs, and some- 
what resemble in miniature the maggots of Wasps 
and Bees. They are carefully nourished by the 
neutral or labouring ants, till they are arrived at 
their full growth, when they enclose themselves in 
smooth, oval, pale yellow, silken webs or cases, in 
which state they are poyjularly known by the mis- 
taken title of ant-eggs; the real eggs, as before ob- 
served, being white, and extremely small. It is 
generally in the months of June and July that the 
larvae thus enclose themselves. J'he chrysalis, if 
taken out of its silken case, is of a white colour, 
and exhibits all the limbs of the future animal in 
an imperfect or contracted state. During the time 
of their remaining in chrysalis the neutral ants 
attend them with the same care as when in their 
larva state, frequently shifting their situation*, and 
placing them at greater or smaller elevations ac- 
cording to the different state of the atmos|>here. 
About the beginning of August the males and 
females may be observed in the nests: these differ 
* This care of the Ants in conveying their pupae from place 
to place seems to have been often mistaken for a sedulous in- 
ilustry in collecting grains of wheat, which the pupae, on a 
cursory view, much resemble. 
