ANTS. 41 



assassins. But the Ants I am speaking of 

 avoided going into any other hole but their 

 own, and rather tried all other ways of mak- 

 ing their escape. They never fled into an- 

 other nest, but at the last extremity ; and 

 sometimes chose rather to be taken, as I have 

 often experienced. It is therefore an invio- 

 lable custom among those insects, not to go 

 into any other hole but their own. They do 

 not exercise hospitality ; but they are very 

 ready to help one another out of their holes. 

 They put down their loads at the entrance of 

 a neighbouring nest ; and those that live in 

 it, carry them in. 



They keep up a sort of trade among 

 themselves ; and it is not true that those in- 

 sects are not fond of lending : I know the con- 

 trary : they lend their corn ; they make ex- 

 changes ; they are always ready to serve one 

 another ; and I can assure you, that more 

 time and patience would have enabled me to 

 observe a thousand things more curious and 

 wonderful than what I have mentioned. For 

 instance, how they lend and recover their 

 loans ; whether it be in the same quantity, 

 or with usury ; whether they pay the stran- 

 e3 



