ANT HERD-KEEPERS. 89 



defect in their nature. The providing instinct is not bestowed, 

 whilst a provision is given to supply its place. 



When we say the providing instinct is not given, we must, 

 however, limit the observation to the business of storing grain 

 for winter's want. Though they do not this, they sometimes 

 do as much or more. What say you to the habit of keeping 

 and tending infant herds with a view to future use ? At all 

 events, througli a prospective propensity which is made sub- 

 servient to this end, "they will sometimes (says Huber) 

 collect the eggs of Aphides, deposit them in their own nests, 

 guard them with the greatest care, till evolved, and then, as wr 

 pasture milch kine, continue to keep an eye over them for the 

 delicious nutriment they afford. Those Ants which do not 

 know how thus to assemble them, are, at least, acquainted 

 with their resorts. They follow them to the base of the trees 

 and branches of the shrubs they are used to frequent, and at 

 the beginning of frost pursue along the hedges the paths 

 which lead to their retreat. As soon as the Ants recover from 

 their torpor, induced by severe cold, they venture forth to 

 procure their food. The honied aliment, thus collected and 

 swallowed, is on their return home equally distributed among 

 their companions. ' The Ant figured in our story, and pre- 

 figured in our vignette, is one of that large species before 

 spoken of, popularly known by the different names of Pismire, 

 Wood, Hill, and Horse Ant. Their stick and straw-capped 

 cones scattered through the woods, must be familiar to all 



o * 



