EGGS, &C. OF ANTS. 65 
of the materials with a large bell-glass, in 
order that I might witness the move- 
ments of my prisoners, as well inside as 
on the outside, and at the same time 
guard against their escape. But when I 
saw they were accustomed to their fate, 
and did not seek to leave their prison, I 
allowed them free issue from under the 
bell-glass, and the liberty of running over 
the platform upon which it rested, taking 
only the precaution of plunging the feet 
of the table in vessels filled with water, 
to arrest the ants in their passage, should 
they attempt to escape. 
This apparatus, and several others of 
which the explanation would be long and 
tedious, had all the success I wished. I 
observed, with much pleasure, that the 
ants continued to take care of the larve, 
which proved, that in taking them, in 
some respects, from the state of nature, I 
had not too much disturbed them. This 
gave me reason to hope, that I should 
observe, in its greatest extent, all the care 
they took of the rising generation, 
