86 



on alf their works by means of (heir double saws, and 

 the I'O^ks at the extremity of them. 



A colony from the latter end of August to the begin- 

 ning of June, consists of a female and various compa- 

 nies of workers ; and besides these, in the latter end 

 Of June, all July and part of August, of a number of 

 winged an Is. 



The labouring ants being 6f no sex, arc wholly cm. 

 plovrcl in providing for the young, which the queen 

 deposits in the cells. In whatever apartment she is 

 present, universal joy is shewn. They have a parti- 

 cular way of skipping, leaping, prancing, and stand, 

 ing on tfuir hincl legs. Some walk gently over her, 

 others dance round her, all express their loyalty and 

 affection ; of all wLich you may be convinced in a few 

 moments, by placing the queen and her retinue under 

 a glass. 



The queen lays three different sorts of eggs d male 

 and female in spring, neutral in July and part of Au. 

 gust. The common ants then brood over (hem in little 

 clus ers, And remove them to and fro for a just degree 

 of heat. The young disengage themselves from the 

 membranes that enclose the eggs, just as the silk-worms 

 do. The female eggs put on the form of worms, some 

 time in February ; the male, by the latter end of 

 March, the neutral by September. The first summer 

 they grow little, and less in winter. In the beginning 

 of April, the second year, they visibly increase every 

 day. By the end of May the male and female attain 

 their full growth, and are ready for another change. 

 This long continuance of ants in the vermicular state, 

 has nothing like it in any other class of insect. The 

 vermicles in a few da) s infold themselves m a Soft 

 silken covering, and so commence aurelias, which 

 are commonly mistaken for ants eggs. As soon as 

 they tend to life, the workers give them air, by an 

 aperture in ine end 01 the covering: this they gra-; ual- 

 ly enlarge ior a day or two ; aiut then take out 

 young* 



