SGO HISTORY OF 



life, and myriads of these insects arc seen just awaked from 

 their annual lethargy, and preparing for the pleasures and fatigues 

 of the season. For the first day they never offer to leave the 

 hill, which may be considered as their citadel, but run over every 

 part of it, as if to examine its present situation, to observe what 

 injuries it has sustained during the rigours of winter,' while 

 they slept, and to meditate and settle the labours of the day 

 ensuing. 



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 distin- 

 guished from each other ; the females are much larger than the 

 males ; the working ants are the smallest of all. The two for- 

 mer 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 community. The 

 female, also, may be distinguished by the colour and structure of 

 her breast, which is a little more brown than that of the com- 

 mon 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 temales are 

 seen mixed with the working multitude, and pursued or pursu- 

 ing each other. They seem no way to partake in the common 

 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. 



In the meantime, the working body of the state take no part 

 in their pleasures ; they are seen diligently going from the ant- 

 hill in pursuit of food for themselves and their associates, and 

 of proper materials for giving a comfortable retreat to their 

 young, or safety to their habitation. In the fields of England, 

 ant-hills are formed with but little apparent regularity. In the 



1 Mi'uioircs pour scrvir a I'Histoire dcs liisectes piu" Charles d(? Geer. 



