THE ANT. 135 



meditate and settle the labours of the day en- 

 suing. 



At the first display of their forces, none but 

 the wingless tribe appears, while those furnished 

 with wings remain at the bottom. These are the 

 working ants that first appear, and that are always 

 destitute of wings ; the males and females, that 

 are furnished with four large wings each, are 

 more slow in making their appearance. 



Thus, like bees, they are divided into males, 

 females, and the neutral or the working tribe. 

 These are all easily distinguished from each 

 other ; the females are much larger than the 

 males, the working ants are the smallest of all. 

 The two former have wings, which, however, 

 they sometimes are divested of; the latter never 

 have any, and upon them are devolved all the 

 labours that tend to the welfare of the commu- 

 nity. The female also may be distinguished by 

 the colour and structure of her breast, which is a 

 little more brown than that of the common ant, 

 and a little brighter than that of the male. 



In eight or ten days after their first appearance, 

 the labours of the hill are in some forwardness ; 

 the males and females are seen mixed with the 

 working multitude, and pursued or pursuing each 

 other. They seem no way to partake in the com- 

 mon drudgeries of the state ; the males pursue 

 the females with great assiduity, and in a manner 

 force them to compliance. They remain coupled 

 for some time, while the males thus united suffer 

 themselves to be drawn along by the will of their 

 partners. 



