WITH THE PUCERONS. Z4t 
low Ants began to bury themselves in 
their subterranean chambers, I destroyed, 
with care, one of their habitations, story 
by story. I had not advanced far in this 
attempt, when I discovered an apartment 
containing an assemblage of little eggs, 
which were for the most part of the co- 
lour of ebony. Several ants surrounded, 
and appeared to take great care of them, 
and endeavoured, as quickly. as possible, 
te convey them from my sight. I seized 
upon this chamber, its inhabitants, and 
the treasure it contained. 
The ants did not abandon these eggs to 
make their escape; a stronger instinct 
retained them: they hastened to conceal 
them under the smal! dwelling, which I 
held in my hand, and when I reached 
home, I drew them from it, to ob- 
serve them more attentively. View-. 
ed with a microscope, they appeared 
nearly of the form of ants’ eggs, but 
their colour was entirely different; the 
greater part were black ; others were of 
a cloudy yellow. I found them in se- 
M 
