EGGS, &c. OF ANTS. 91 
in conducting them from the ant-hill. 
In short, the labourers appear to have 
the complete direction of their conduct, 
as long as they remain there, and neglect 
not to discharge the several duties, con- 
nected with these insects (whose strength 
is not yet developed) until the period of 
their taking flight for the purpose of con- 
tinuing their kind. 
How can we sufficiently admire the as- 
siduity which the labouring ants evince 
for the little ones whose safety is con- 
fided to them! — By what bond has nature 
attached them so strongly to the pro- 
geny of another mother! ‘This question 
having a reference to the different families 
composed of three sorts of individuals, — 
the labourers, charged with educating 
the young, fabricating, and provisioning 
the nest ; and those upon whom the of- 
fice devolves of multiplying the species, — 
deserves to be treated at greater length, 
and with greater attention, than our con- 
fined knowledge permits. But we have 
a glimpse, however, of the secret of this 
