ON THE PHYSICAL POWER OF INSECTS. 233 



that they baffle the ingenuity of Man to save from them his valuables, pushing 

 forward their architectural designs to the very heart of well-fumished habitations, 

 where they without fail destroy all that is of vegetable or animal origin. Thus 

 in the tropical regions of South America Humboldt states that it is extremely 

 rare to obtain a paper fifty or sixty years old, owing to the difficulty of excluding 

 the White Ants. 



Painful as it must be for the inhabitants of such latitudes to have to contend 

 with an enemy they can see no hope of removing, these little creatures can only be 

 looked upon as active and useful labourers in the work of disintegration, where 

 the fertility of the climate calls for a more rapid conversion of dead animal or 

 vegetable matter into the elements of reproduction. 



The Ants (Formica ccespitum) of our own island are industrious co-operative 

 labourers, endued with a power suited to the wants of a temperate region. The 

 greater part of their masonic labour is performed during the night, or at least in 

 gloomy weather; it is well ascertained that they use no other cement than 

 water in the construction of their varied habitations ; hence in dry weather many 

 of their operations are abandoned. 



In a sandy soil I found that the favourite resort for their encampments was 

 under large thin flat stones. Galleries led in every direction from under the stone 

 through the soil ; and this covering, while it protected the nest from rain, 

 was quickly heated by the sun's rays. The eggs are invariably placed close 

 under it ; on suddenly raising these stones, a scene of much bustle ensues, and 

 great solicitude is displayed by the workers for the safety of the eggs and grubs, the 

 latter being rapidly carried away through the galleries under ground. These pro- 

 ceedings leave a pleasing impression on the mind of the observer ; and it is striking 

 to see such tender care exercised in so small a circle. I have always found 

 the Ants of Britain more omnivorous than their tropical brethren. In the early 

 part of spring they attack animal matter with great avidity ; any small animal 

 placed in a large nest is soon reduced to a skeleton ; and as this experiment is 

 frequently tried, with a view to obtain a preparation of bones too tender and 

 fragile to be easily cleaned by the ordinary methods, I may mention that I have 

 rarely seen it succeed ; for the Ants in eating away the flesh seldom spare the 

 tenderer parts of the bone. 



The Mason Ants are frequently seen dragging to their hills loads of provisions 

 far exceeding their own size and weight. The perseverance they display in 

 overcoming the difficulties of very rough roads has arrested the attention of 

 observers in all ages. Hence, in the fables of old, the Ant is made to figure as a 

 pattern of industry, frugality, and foresight. 



The more strict observations of latter days have proved that Ants stand in no 

 need of such stores of food. They pass the whole winter in a torpid state. I 



