96 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



each moment, by day and night, almost without inter- 

 mission, unless hindered by excessive rains*." M. Huber 

 also, speaking of a mason-ant, not found with us, tells us 

 that they work after sun-set, and in the night''. To 

 these I can add some observations of my own, which 

 fully confirm these accounts. My first were made at nine 

 o'clock at night, when I found the inhabitants of a nest 

 of the red ant {Myrmica rubra) very busily employed ; I 

 repeated the observation, which I could conveniently do, 

 the nest being in my garden, at various times from that 

 hour till twelve, and always found some going and 

 coming, even while a heavy rain was falling. Having 

 in the day noticed some Aphides upon a thistle, I ex- 

 amined it again in the night, at about eleven o'clock, 

 and found my ants busy milking their cows, which did 

 not for the sake of repose intermit their suction. At the 

 same hour, another night, I observed the little negro 

 ant {F. fused) engaged in the same employauent upon 

 an elder. About two miles from my residence was a 

 nest of Gould's hill-ant [F. rufa)^ which, according to 

 M. Huber, shut their gates, or rather barricade them, 

 every night, and remain at home *=. Being desirous of 

 ascertaining the accuracy of his statement, early in 

 October, about two o'clock one morning, I visited this 

 nest in company with an intelligent friend ; and to our 

 surprise and admiration we found our ants at work, 

 some being engaged in carrying their usual burthen, 

 sticks and straws, into their habitation, others going 

 out from it, and several were climbing the neighbouring 

 oaks, doubtless to milk their Aphides. The number of 



• Gould, 68. ^ Huber, 35, 42. « Ibid. 23. 



