530 THE r::d ant — tipul^e, or crane-flies. 



THE RED ANT. 



The lodgments of this species are often found under flat stones and 

 rubbish ; and not unfrequently in the forsaken habitations of Moles. 

 Ill the latter of these situations, the process of forming their nest is 

 curious. They cut the earth into small parcels, and incrust these with 

 I'lie blades of grass. As the blades, towards the month of June (when 

 this work is in progress) grow every day, so the Ants advance their 

 labors in proportion. By this contrivance, in somewhat more than a 

 month they have a number of little mounts, each about six inches 

 high. The architecture of these is slight, and the demolition easy ; 

 but, without any serious accident, they last long enough to answer 

 every purpose for which they were formed. The nests of such Ked 

 Anis as reside under stones or pavements, in old walls, or under rub- 

 bish, do not require out-works, and consequently the insects do not 

 here form them, but are content with the covering they find. 



In collecting their stores, these creatures may often be observed in 

 ^ull employment ; one of them loaded with a grain of wheat, another 

 with a dead fly, and several together hauling along the body of some 

 larfT'er insect. Whenever they meet with any food too large to admit 

 of being dragged away, they devour so much of it upon the spot, a» 

 bo reduce it to a bulk sufficiently small for them to .carry. 



DIPTEROUS INSECTS. 



The Linnean order Diptera, comprises those insects that have only 

 two wings, eacli furnished at its base with a poise or balancer. 



OF THE TIPUL^, OR CRANE-FLIES. 



In their general form, the Tipulae have a general resemblance to the 

 Gnats, but they are easily distinguished from those insects, by having 

 expanded wings, and being destitute of the long proboscis which is so 

 conspicuous in the Gnats, From the commencement of spring until 

 the beginning of autumn, the larger kinds of Tipulae are to be seen 

 in great numbers in pastures and meadows. Some of the species Iny 

 their eggs upon the ground amongst the grass, and others in the hol- 

 lows of decayed trees. The larvce are without feet, soft, and cylindrical. 



Both the larvce. and chrysalids of the smaller Tipulas are found in 

 water, and are very various, both in size and color. Some are fur- 

 nished with a pair of arms ; and others are enclosed in cylindrical 

 tubes, open at the ends. The latter swim nimbly, but the former 

 always remain in holes which they have formed in the banks of rivu- 

 lets. Some of the species spin a silken case round part of their body. 

 Their whole frame is, in general, so very tender, that, in some of the 

 species, a touch only is sufficient to crush them. 



