ANTS. 13 



are of a thickish form, destitute of legs, 

 and somewhat resemble, in miniature, the 

 maggots of wasps and bees. They are care- 

 fully nourished by the neutral or labouring 

 Ants, till they are arrived at their full growth, 

 when they inclose themselves in smooth, 

 oval, pale yellow silken webs, or cases, in 

 which state they are properly known by the 

 mistaken title of Ant-eggs ; the real eggs, as 

 before observed, being white, and extremely 

 small. It is generally in the months of 

 June and July, that the larvae thus inclose 

 themselves. The chrysalis, if taken out of 

 its silken case, is of a white colour, and 

 exhibits all the limbs of the future animal in 

 an imperfect or contracted state. During 

 the time of their remaining in chrysalis, the 

 neutral Ants attend them v/ith the same care 

 as when in their larvoe state, frequently shift- 

 ing their situation, and placing them at 

 greater or smaller elevations, according to the 

 different state of the atmosphere. 



About the latter end of July, or the be- 

 ginning of August, the males and females 

 may be observed in the nests : these differ 

 from the neutrals in bebg furnished with 



