85 



naked eye. Through a microscope they appear like 

 the eggs of small birds, and are as clear as the air- 

 bladder of fishes. They lie in clusters under cover of 

 some light earth. Theauts seem to brood over them, 

 till every granule is hatched into a worm, not much 

 larger than a mite. In a short time these turn yello\v- 

 jsh and hairy, and grow to near as big as their parent: 

 they then get a whitish film over them, and are of an 

 oval form. If this cover be opened after some days, 

 all the lineaments of an ant may be traced, though the 

 whole is transparent except the eyes, which are two 

 dark specks. 



The care these creatures fake of their young is 

 amazing. Whenever a hill is disturbed, all the ants 

 are found busy in consulting the safety, not of them- 

 selves but of their offspring. They carry them out of 

 sight as soon as possible, and will do it over and over 

 as often as they are disturbed. They carry the eggs 

 and worms together in their haste; but as soon as the 

 danger is over, they carefully separate them, and place 

 each by themselves under shelter of different kinds, 

 and at various depths, according to the different de- 

 grees of warmth which their different states require. 



iu the summer they every morning bring up the au- 

 relia near the surface of the earth. And from ten in 

 the morning till about five in the afternoon, they may 

 be found just under the surface ; but if you search at 

 eight in tho evening, they will be found to have carried 

 them all down; and if rainy weather be coming on, 

 they lodge them at least a foot deep. 



Though auts unite in colonies, in such places as 

 are agreeable to their different natures, yet tney often 

 vary their residence; but the several species never in- 

 termix, though they will be good neighbours) one to 

 another. 



Their architecture is adjusted with remarkable art. 

 The whole structure is divided into aumerous cells, 

 communicating with t^ach other by small subterraneous 

 channels; winch are circular and smooth ; they carry 



