582 Insects. 



THE LABOURING AND SOLDIER ANT. 

 (Formica rufa.) 



THE colour of the Ant is in general a dark red or brown, 

 with a fine gloss on the abdomen. They are like the 

 bees, divided into three kinds males, females, and neu- 

 ters. The females and neuters are furnished with stings 

 for their defence ; the males are wholly destitute of them. 

 The males and females are in proper season furnished 

 with wings, but the neuters have none, and they are 

 doomed always to labour and drudgery on the hill. This 

 hill is constructed with considerable art and labour ; it 

 is composed of leaves, bits of wood, sand, earth, and 

 gum from the trees, which are all united into a mass, 

 perforated with galleries to give access to the numerous 

 cells which it contains. From this hill there are several 

 paths, worn by the constant passing and repassing of 

 these creatures; and it is worthy the admiration of the 

 naturalist to consider how busy the whole legion appears 

 in bringing bits of straw, dead bodies of other insects, 

 or in carrying away their eggs, if any danger threatens 

 their republic. Their sense of smell is very keen, and 

 they discover at a great distance any food they may be 

 in search of. 



ORDER VI. Lepidoptera. The Moths and Butterflies. 



THE insects included in this order are all remarkable for 

 their beauty. Their wings are membranous and veined, 

 like those of the dragon flies and their allies, but instead 



