96 FECUNDATION &C. OF ANTS. 
follow them out of the nest, and, as far 
as possible, in their aérial excursions. 
Let us lose sight for one moment of the 
glazed ant-hill. Let us retire to a 
meadow, on a fine summer’s day, at a 
time when they first make use of their 
wings, and take a survey of their habita- 
tion, on the surface of which we shall ob- 
serve walking to and fro many of its 
winged inhabitants. ‘These are the males 
and females of the Field Ants; they climb 
all the plants which surround their resi- 
dence, and are every where accompanied 
by a multitude of workers, who follow 
their steps with ceaseless solicitude. — 
Some, however, attempt to retain and re- 
conduct them to the ant-hill; but the 
greater part content themselves with 
simply escorting them. They offer them 
nourishment for the last time, and render 
them the last token of their care and af- 
fection. 
The dome of the ant-hill does not 
afford the winged ants a sufficiently ample 
field for the display of their amours ; 
