42 ANTS. 



gers that work for them, S:c. I do not think 

 it impossible to examine all those things ; 

 and it would be a great curiosity to know by 

 what maxims they govern themselves : per- 

 haps such a knowledge might be of some use 

 to us. 



They are never attacked by any enemies in 

 a body, as it is reported of bees. Their only 

 fear proceeds from birds, which sometimes eat 

 their corn when they lay it out in the sun ; 

 but they keep it under ground, when they are 

 afraid of thieves. It is said that some birds 

 eat them ; but I never saw an instance of it. 

 They are also infested by small worms ; but 

 they turn them out and kill them. I ob- 

 served, that they punished those Ants which 

 probably had been wanting to their duty; 

 nay, sometimes they killed them, which they 

 did in the following manner : — Three or four 

 Ants fell upon one, and pulled her several 

 ways, until she was torn in pieces. Generally 

 speaking, they live very quietly ; from whence 

 I infer that they have a very severe discipline 

 among themselves, to keep so good an order ; 

 or that they are great lovers of peace, if they 

 h^ve no occasion for any discipline. 



