TEE BLACK ANT. 339 



sets to work and spins for itself a cocoon in which it is entirely 

 enveloped. The charge of these cocoons falls upon tlie worl^eis, 

 and admirable nurses they are. They take tiie greatest care of 

 the cocoons, continually shifting them to higher or lower parts 

 of the nest according to the temperature of the day. If one of 

 these cocoons be opened the insect is found lying inside it, 

 nearly as white as its habitation, and having its limbs tucked 

 against its body. Tlie cocoons are of different sizes, the largest 

 containing those of tlie perfect males and females, the next size 

 those of the larger workers, and the smallest those of tlie little 

 workers. 



When the perfect insects are developed, they often make 

 their oppearance in vast multitudes, and, as they are not able 

 to direct their flight against the wind, are blown about at 

 random just as the breeze liappens to turn. Sometimes they 

 fall into the river, where the tish hold high festival over them, 

 and, out of the swarms wliich leave a nest only a very few 

 survive and found fi-esh colonies. Indeed, were they all to live, 

 or were even a moderate percentage to survive, the whole country 

 would be eaten up by the Wood Ant alone in a few years. 

 Supposing, however, a pair to have escaped the many dangers 

 of their flight, they disrobe LUemseives of their wings, and do 

 so, not by tearing tliem from their insertions, but by simply 

 unhitching them. Tlie wings are thrown well forward, and tlie 

 insect sharply presses tlieir ends against the ground, when tliey 

 immediately fall off, and are left lying where they fell, the Ant 

 running away, apparently quite jDleased at being rid of its 

 beautiful wings. 



The habits of otlier British Ants are, on the wdiole, very 

 much like those of the Wood Ant, though each species has 

 some peculiarity of its own. For example, the Black Axi 

 {Formica fuliginosa) is remarkable for its sluggish nature, so 

 different from {.he quick, active fussiness of Ants in general. 

 If a nest of the Black Ant be opened the insects take it very 

 easily, moving gently and quietly as if half-paralysed. How- 

 ever, with all their slowness, they seem to have a very good 

 idea of taking care of themselves, and contrive to slip out of 

 sight, while the more active Yellow or Eed Ants would be 

 fussing about, trying one means of escape after another. 



z 2 



