4.2 ' ARCHITECTURE OF ANTS, 
worked after some preconceived idea, 
which indeed would seem verified by the 
execution. Thus, should any ant dis- 
cover upon the nest, two stalks of plants, 
which lie cross-ways, a disposition favour- 
able to the construction of a lodge; or 
some little beams that may be useful in 
forming its angles and sides, it examines 
the several parts with attention, then dis- 
tributes with much sagacity and address 
parcels of earth, in the spaces, and along 
the stems, taking from every quarter ma- 
terials adapted to its object, sometimes, 
not caring to destroy the work that others 
had commenced ; so much are its motions 
regulated by the idea it has conceived, 
and upon which it acts, with little atten- 
tion to all else around it. It goes and 
returns, until the plan is sufficiently un- 
derstood by its companions. 
In another part of the same ant-hill, 
several fragments of straw seemed ex- 
pressly placed to form the roof of a large 
house; a workman took advantage of 
this disposition: these fragments lying 
