96 pehfect societies of insects. 



noticed some Aphides upon a thistle, I examined 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.fusca) engaged in the same employment 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 burden, 

 sticks and straws, into their habitation, others going 

 out from it, and several were climbing the neighbour- 

 ing oaks, doubtless to milk their Aphides. The num- 

 ber of comers and goers at that hour, however, was 

 nothing compared with the myriads that may always 

 be seen on these nests during the day. It so happened 

 that our visit was paid while the moon was near the 

 full ; so that whether this species is equally vigilant 

 and active in the absence of that luminary yet remains 

 "uncertain. Perhaps this circumstance might reconcile 

 Huber's observation with ours, and confirm the accu- 

 racy of Aristotle's statement before quoted. To the 

 red anty indeed, it is perfectly indifferent whether the 

 moon shine or not ; they are always busy, though not 

 in such numbers as during the day. It is probable 



"Iluber, 23. 



