28 



AXTS. 



them in the sun. Every Ant brings a small 

 particle of the earth in her pincers, lays it 

 by the hole, and then goes and fetches ano- 

 ther. Thus, in less than a quarter of an 

 hour, one may see a vast number of such 

 small particles of dry earth heaped up round 

 the hole. They lay their com under ground 

 upon that earth, and cover it with the same. 

 They perform this work almost every day, 

 during the heat of the sun ; and though the 

 sun went from the window about three or 

 four of the clock in the afternoon, they did 

 not remove their com and the particles of 

 earth, because the ground was very hot, until 

 the heat was over. 



If any one should think that those ani- 

 mals should use sand, or small particles of 

 brick or stone, rather than take so much 

 pains about dry earth ; I answer, that upon 

 such an occasion nothing can be more proper 

 than earth heated in the sun. Com does not 

 keep upon sand ; besides a grain of corn that 

 is cut, being deprived of its bud, would be 

 filled with small sandy particles that a)uld 

 not easily come out. To which I add, that 



