ANTS. 33 



end. In such a case, the strongest Ants, or 

 those that were not so weary, having carried 

 their corn to their nests, came down again to 

 help them. Some Avere so unfortunate as to 

 fall down with their load, when they were 

 almost come home. When this happens 

 they seldom lose their corn, but carry it up 

 again. 



I saw one of the smallest carr}dng a 

 large grain of wheat with incredible pains ; 

 when he came to the box where the nest 

 was, he made so much haste that he fell 

 dovm with his load, after a very laborious 

 march : such an unlucky accident would 

 have vexed a philosopher. I went down, and 

 found him with the same corn in his paws : 

 he was ready to climb up again. The same 

 misfortune happened to him three times. 

 Sometimes he fell in the middle of his way, 

 and sometimes higher; but he never let go 

 his hold, and was not discouraged. At last 

 his strength failed him, he stopt ; and ano- 

 ther Ant helped him to carry his load, which 

 was one of the largest and finest grains of 

 wheat that an ant can carry. It sometimes 

 happens that a com slips out of their paws, 



