Of the ant*. 



In a Treatife, lately publillied in Germany, on Microfcopical lub- 

 jetts, the author has given drawings of the Ant and its egg, in the 

 latter of which, he has reprefented the young Ant within the egg, 

 though not more than an eighth part the iize of a full grown Ant : 

 but as thefe figures appeared to me, to be very inaccurately taken, I 

 determined to enter upon an inveftigation of the fubjeft myfelf. 



Upon digging up an Ant's neft, in my garden, and examining the 

 eggs (as they are commonly called), I found them not only to be of 

 ditferent lizes, but alfo fome of the young Ants within them, were 

 of a white colour, and lay, as it were, motionlefs, until they arrived 

 at their full growth. Hereupon I began to form very different 

 ideas from the opinions hitherto entertained, refpcAing thefe crea- 

 tures ; and, I concluded, that the Ant, as well ;as the Weevil 

 and other minute animals (in thefe cold regions), does, in the winter 

 feafon, lie without motion, and does not take any nourifliment ; and 

 that the colledions of food which Ants are obferved to make, and 

 to heap together in their nefts, during the fummer feafon, is for no 

 other purpofe than to feed their young. 



Thefe my fentiments may appear new and llrange to many ; but 

 how can we conceive the egg of any creature to be larger than the 

 hind part or belly of the animal from which it proceeds, and, 



nofft 



* Tiiis Kffay was written in the year 1G87. A3 the, .A"'hor hciein combats fome gcne«-ally 

 received opinions, refjiefting the Ant, the Tranflalor has given his own words, as nearly as 

 pofTible, and in the order in which they ftand, that the Reader may form his own opinion upon 

 the fubject. ' ' . 



Vol. it. C 



