AXTS- 29 



sand consists of such small particles, that an 

 Ant could not take them up one after ano- 

 ther ; and therefore those insects are seldom 

 to be seen near rivers or in very sandy ground. 



As for the small particles of brick or 

 stone, the least moisture would join them 

 together, and turn them into a kind of mas- 

 tich, which those insects could not divide. 

 Those particles sticking together could not 

 come out of an ant's ncst^ and would spoil its 

 symmetry. 



When ants have brought out those par- 

 ticles of earth, they bring out their corn 

 after the same manner, and place it round 

 the earth. Thus one may see two heaps 

 surrounding their hole, one of dry earth, and 

 the other of corn ; and then they fetch out 

 a remainder of dry earth, on which doubtless 

 their corn was laid up. 



Those insects never go about this work, 

 but when the weather is clear, and the sun 

 very hot. I observed, that those little ani- 

 mals having one day brought out their corn 

 at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, removed 

 it, contrary to their usual custom, before 

 D 3 



