12 ANTS. 



slight elevation, either prepared by the in- 

 sects themselves, or previously formed by 

 some other animals, as moles, &c. They 

 feed on both animal and vegetable substances, 

 devouring the smallest kinds of insects, ca- 

 terpillars, &c. as well as fruits of different 

 kinds. The fondness of Ants for animal 

 food is often turned to good account by ana- 

 tomists. When they wish to obtain the 

 skeleton of any animal, too small or delicate 

 to admit of being prepared in the usual way, 

 the animal is disposed in a proper position, 

 in a small box, vrith perforations in the lid, 

 and deposited in a large Ant-hill ; in con- 

 sequence the softer parts are eaten away, and 

 the skeleton remains. Thus, very elegant ske- 

 letons of frogs, snakes, &c. may be obtained. 



The Comimon or J^] ack Ant (formica nigra) 

 is a well known inhabitnnt of our fields and 

 gardens, residing in great numbers between 

 molehills and .other elevated spots. It is of 

 a brovmish black colour, and of a glossy or 

 polished surface. The eggs of this species 

 are deposited early in the spring, and are 

 extremely small, and of a white colour. 

 From these are hatched the larvae, which 



