THE ANT. 361 



more southern provinces of Europe, they are constructed with 

 wonderful contrivance, and offer a sight highly worthy a natural- 

 ist's curiosity. These are generally formed in the neighbour- 

 hood of some large tree and a stream of water. The one is 

 considered by the animals as the proper place for getting food ; 

 the other for supplying them with moisture, which they cannot 

 well dispense with. The shape of the ant-hill is that of a 

 sugar-loaf, about three feet high, composed of various sub- 

 stances ; leaves, bits of wood, sand, earth, bits of gum, and 

 grains of com. These are all united into a compact body, per- 

 forated with galleries down to the bottom, and winding ways 

 within the body of the structure. From this retreat, to the 

 water, as well as to the tree, in different directions, there are 

 many paths worn by constant assiduity, and along these the busy 

 insects are seen passing and repassing continually ; so that from 

 May, or the beginning of June, according to the state of the 

 season, they work continually, till the bad weather comes on. 



The chief employment of the working ants, is in sustaining 

 not only the idlers at home, but also finding a sufficiency of food 

 for themselves. They Hve upon various provisions, as well of 

 the vegetable as of the animal kind. Small insects they will 

 kill and devour -. sweets of all kinds they are particularly fond of. 

 They seldom, however, think of their community, till they 

 themselves are first satiated. Having found a juicy fruit, they 

 swallow what they can, and then tearing it in pieces, carry home 

 their load. If they meet with aiv»insect above their match, 

 several of them will fall upon it at once, and, having mangled it, 

 each will carry off a part of the spoil. If they meet, in their 

 excursions, any thing that is too heavy for one to bear, and yet 

 which they are able to divide, several of them will endeavour to 

 force it along, some dragging and others pushing. If any one 

 of them happens to make a lucky discovery, it will immediately 

 give advice to others, and then, at once, the whole republic will 

 put themselves in motion. If in these struggles one of them 

 happens to be killed, some kind survivor will carry him off to a 

 gi-eat distance, to prevent the obstructions his body might give 

 to the general spirit of industry.* 



* M. Hauhart gives an account of a battle wliicli lie witnessed between 

 two epecies of these iusects— ouc thefonnica rttfa, and the other a little black 



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