3G ANTS. 



ever there was this difference, that the inha- 

 bitants of one of those holes seemed to be 

 more knowing and industrious than their 

 neighbours. The Ants of that nest were 

 disposed in better order; their com was 

 finer ; they had a greater plenty of provi- 

 sions; their nest was furnished with more 

 inhabitants, and they were bigger and 

 stronger : it was the principal and the capi- 

 tal nest. Nay, I observed that those Ants 

 were distinguished from the rest, and had 

 some pre-eminence over them. 



Though the box full of earth, where the 

 Ants had made their settlement, was gene- 

 rally free from rain ; yet it rained sometimes 

 upon it, when a certain wind blew. It was 

 a great inconvenience for those insects : Ants 

 are afraid of water ; and when they go a 

 great way in quest of provisions, and are sur- 

 prised by the rain, they shelter themselves 

 under some tile, or something else, and do 

 not come out until the rain is over. The 

 Ants of the principal nest found out a won- 

 derfril expedient to keep out the rain : there 

 was a small piece of flat slate, which they 

 kid over the hole of their nest in the day- 



