98 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



provisions ; tliat upon these roads they always travel, and 

 are very careful to remove from them bits of sticks, straw, 

 or anything that may impede their progress ; nay, that 

 they even keep low the herbs and grass which grow in 

 them, by constantly biting them off ^, so that they may 

 be said to mow their walks. But the best constructors 

 of roads are the hill-ants (F. rufa). Of these De Geer 

 says, " When you keep yourself still, without making 

 any noise, in the woods peopled with these ants, you may 

 hear them very distinctly walking over the dry leaves 

 which are dispersed upon the soil, the claws of their feet 

 producing a slight sound when they lay hold of them. 

 They make in the ground broad paths, well beaten, 

 which may be readily distinguished, and which are 

 formed by the going and coming of innumerable ants, 

 whose custom it is always to travel in the same route''." 

 From Huber we further learn, thcit these roads of the 

 hill-ants are sometimes a hundred feet in length, and 

 several inches wide; and that they are not formed merely 

 by the tread of these creatures, but hollowed out by their 

 labour "=. Virgil alludes to their tracks in the following 

 animated lines, which, though not altogether correct, 

 are very beautiful : 



" So when the pismires, an industrious train. 

 Embodied rob some golden heap of grain. 

 Studious ere stormy winter frowns to lay 

 Safe in their darksome cells the treasured prey ; 

 In one long track the dusky legions lead 

 Their prize in triumph through the verdant mead; 

 Here bending with the load, a panting throng 

 With force conjoin'd heave some huge grain along; 



•« Gould, 87. " De Geer, ii. 1067. ' Huber, 146. 



