102 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



to each other, which are inhabited by a little black ant. 

 When an inundation takes place, they are heaped toge- 

 ther out of the nest into a circular mass, about a foot in 

 diameter and four fingers in depth. Thus they remain 

 floating upon the water while the inundation continues. 

 One of the sides of the mass which they form is attached 

 to some sprig of grass, or piece of wood ; and when the 

 waters are retired, they return to their habitation. When 

 they wish to pass from one plant to another, they may 

 often be seen formed into a bridge, of two palms length, 

 and of the breadth of a finger, which has no other sup- 

 port than that of its two extremities. One would sup- 

 pose that their own weight would sink them ; but it is 

 certain that the masses remain floating during the inun- 

 dation, which lasts some days*. 



You must now be fully satiated with this account of 

 the constant fatigue and labour to which our little pis- 

 mires are doomed by the law of their nature ; I shall 

 therefore endeavour to relieve your mind by introducing 

 you to a more quiet scene, and exhibit them to you du- 

 ring their intervals of repose and relaxation. 



Gould tells us that the hill-ant is very fond of basking 

 in the sun, and that on a fine serene morning you may 

 see them conglomerated like bees on the surface of their 

 nest, from whence, on ,the least disturbance, they will 

 disappear in an instant ''. M. Huber also observes, after 

 their labours are finished, that they stretch themselves 

 in the sun, where they lie heaped one upon another, and 

 seem to enjoy a short interval of repose : and in the in- 

 terior of an artificial nest, in which he had confined some 



' Voyages dans VAmeiiquc Merid. i. 187. '' Gould, 69. 



