54 ANTS. 



milar ones made on the same species of Ants 

 in their natural state of freedom, he satisfied 

 himself that perfect reliance could be placed 

 on their accuracy. 



The Green Ants of New Holland. 



These little animals form their habita- 

 tions by bending down the leaves of trees, and 

 gluing the ends of them together, so as to 

 form a purse. Though these leaves are as 

 broad as a man's hand, they perform this feat 

 by main strength, thousands of them being 

 employed in holding dowTi the leaves, while 

 multitudes of others apply the glutinous mat- 

 ter. Captain Cook's people ascertained them- 

 selves that this was the case, by sometimes 

 disturbing them at their work ; in which case 

 the leaf always sprung up with an elasticity 

 which they could not have supposed that such 

 minute insects were capable of overcoming. 

 For this curiosity however they smarted 

 pretty severely ; for thousands of those little 

 enemies instantly threw themselves upon the 



