THE ANT. 37! 



their eggs ; and when I poured water thereon, it was surprising 

 to see with what care, affection, and diligence, they laboured, 

 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 

 carried 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 insect has passed through all its changes, and acquired its 

 proper maturity, it bursts this last skin, to assume the form it is 

 to retain ever after. Yet this is not done by 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 au- 

 relia 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. 



When the female has done laying, and the whole brood is 

 thus produced, her labours, as well as that of the male, become 

 unnecessary ; and her wings, which she had but a short time 

 before so actively employed, drop off. What becomes of her 

 when thus divested of her ornaments is not well known, for 

 she is seen in the cells for some weeks after. The males, on 

 the other hand, having no longer any occupation at home, make 

 use of those wings with which they have been furnished by na- 

 ture, and fly away, never to return or be heard of more. It is 

 probable they perish with the cold, or are devoured by the birds, 

 which are particularly fond of this petty prey. 



In the meantime, the working ants, having i)robably deposed 



BigTial to hasten the business. Thus the pleasure of seeing: tliem out to fight 

 or to work alternately may be obtained as often as curiosity excites, or 

 time permits ; ami it will certainly be found, that the one order ucTer at- 

 tempts to fight, nor the other to work, let the emergency be ever so great." 



2 I 2 



