WOOD-ANTS. 2T7 



their economy, he directed his eiitife attention to 

 their night proceedings. ^' I remarked," says he, 

 "that their habitations changed in appearance hourly, 

 and that the diameter oi those spacious avenues, 

 wliere so many ants could freely pass each other 

 during the day, was, as night approached, gradually 

 lessened. The aperture, at length, totally disap- 

 peared, the dome was closed on all sides, and the 

 ants retired to the bottom of their nest. 



" In further noticing the apertures of these ant- 

 hills, I fully ascertained the nature of the labour of its 

 inhabitants, of which I could not before even guess 

 the purport; for the surface of the nest presented 

 such a constant scene of agitation, and so many in- 

 sects were occupied in carrying materials in every 

 direction, that the movement ofiered no other image 

 than that of confusion. 



" I saw then clearly that tlicy were engaged in 

 stopping up passages; and for this purpose they at 

 first brought forward little pieces of wood, which 

 they deposited near the entrance of those avenues 

 they wished to close; they placed them in the stubble; 

 they then went to seek other twigs and fragments 

 of wood, which they disposed above the first, but in 

 a different direction, and appeared to choose pieces 

 of less size in proportion as the work advanced. 

 They, at length, brought in a number of dried leaves, 

 and other materials of an enlarged form, with which 

 they covered the roof: an exact miniature of the art 

 of our builders, when they form the covering of any 

 building? Nature, indeed, seems everywhere to 

 have anticipated the inventions of which we boast, 

 and this i^ doubtless one of the most simple. 



" Our little insects now in safety in their nest, 

 retire gradually to the interior before the last pas- 

 sages are closed, one or two only remain without, or 



VOL. IV. 24 



