112 FECUNDATION OF ANTS. 
to be filled with winged ants, of both 
sexes, and whose departure could not be 
very distant. Scarcely had I reached the 
spot, when I saw pass over my head seve- 
ral female ants, bearing the males behind 
them. I seized a few, without injuring 
them, and found they belonged to the 
Brown Ant. Having then approached the 
- ant-hill, from whence I had seen them 
depart, I observed several take flight, and 
quit their natal abode. ‘The males pre- 
ceded them, and the labourers, as far as 
they could, accompanied them. These fe- 
males took adirection perpendicular tothe 
horizon, and were soon lost to sight. 
When they encountered the males sport- 
ing in the air, they re-descended with 
their light burthen, and alighted upon 
some shrubs. ‘These couples soon sepa- 
rated. 
I took eight females, still united with 
the males, and placed them in a box, to 
observe them on my return; but a violent 
rain, which came on at this moment, of- 
fered me a sight, as singular as unex- 
pected. As soon as the shower had 
