18 



the very next day, from the same gall, a 

 second male came forth, leaving the grub 

 still aUve in the centre. 



Mr Noakes read an account of Texan 

 ants, forwarded by a nephew, who has resided 

 for some years in that country, in answer to 

 an enquiry respecting the so-called agricul- 

 tural ant. As to Texas being a great country 

 for ants, a residence of but a few houi'S 

 would convince any one, for natm'e seems to 

 have created them in such innumerable sizes, 

 colors, shapes, appetites, and habits, that 

 they managed to creep into anj-thing that it 

 was possible for an ant to enter, and to eat 

 anything that an ant could possibly devour. 

 For what one sort or size cannot eat or creep 

 into, another is sm-e to be able to accomplish. 

 T^Tiile a detachment of one kind is maldng a 

 mid into the sugar-basin in the safe, another, 

 of a different kind, is marching up the sides 

 of the house and under the roof to attack a 

 piece of meat suspended therefrom, another 

 regiment of very minute black ones has 

 chosen the butter-bowl as more congenial to 

 their taste, while a mixed-medley of red ones 

 have suddenly issued from the ground and 

 climbed to a piece of bacon hanging on a 

 nail to a beam ; this they are covering ^vith 

 their bodies, and unless disturbed, will leave 

 nothing behind but the rind. While this is 

 going on in-doors, an army of ants is doing 

 its best in the garden, by sending some of 

 their number up the fruit trees, where they 

 cut off the leaves, which, as they fall, are 

 carried away to theu' homes by those below ; 

 in the meantime another party is delving in 



