THE ANT. 139 



earth. I took pleasure in observing, that in pro- 

 portion as the earth dried on the surface, they dug 

 deeper and deeper to deposit their eggs; and when 

 I poured water thereon, it was surprising to see 

 with what care, affection, and diligence, they la- 

 boured to put their brood in safety in the driest 

 place. I have seen also, that when water has been 

 wanting for several days, and when the earth was 

 moistened after it a little, they immediately car- 

 ried their young ones to have a share, who seemed 

 to enjoy and suck the moisture." 



When the young maggot is come to its full 

 growth, the breast swells insensibly, it casts its 

 skin, and loses all motion. All the members which 

 were hidden before, then begin to appear ; an 

 aurelia is formed, which represents very distinctly 

 all the parts of the animal, though they are yet 

 without motion, and as it were wrapped up in 

 swaddling clothes. When at length the little in- 

 sect has passed through all its changes, and ac- 

 quired its proper maturity, it bursts this last skin, 

 to assume the form it is to retain ever after. Yet 

 this is not done by the efforts of the little animal 

 alone, for the old ones very assiduously break 

 open, with their teeth, the covering in which it 

 is enclosed. Without this assistance, the aurelia 

 would never be able to get free, as M. de Geer 

 often found, who tried the experiment by leaving 

 the aurelias to themselves. The old ones not 

 only assist them, but know the very precise time 

 for lending their assistance ; for if produced too 

 soon, the young one dies of cold, if retarded too 

 long, it is suffocated in its prison. 



