THE ANT. * » *, 401 



Though the ant-hills in England are constructed with 

 but little apparent regularity, yet in the Southern pro- 

 vinces of Europe they are most curiously contrived, 

 and are generally formed in the neighbourhood of both 

 wood and water, as from both they require to be fre- 

 quently supplied. The shape of an ant-hill resembles 

 that of a sugar loaf, about three feet high, and com- 

 posed of earth, corn, wood, gum, and dried leaves, 

 which are all curiously combined together and placed 

 in winding directions, and forming little galleries that 

 terminate at the bottom of the retreat. 



The working ants may be considered as the most use- 

 ful part of this community ; and it is impossible to de- 

 scribe the assiduity and attention which they display 

 in the care of their young; in cold weather they take 

 them in their mouths, without offering them the slight- 

 est injury, and carry them to the very depths of their 

 retreat ; in a fine day they remove them with the same 

 precaution towards the surface of their abode, that they 

 may be enlivened and invigorated by the sun's reviving 

 heat ; they bring provisions to those who remain idle 

 at home, carry out the dead bodies of their companions, 

 and are constantly occupied in some useful employment, 

 or in preparing food for the young ones to eat. 



In Africa there are a species of these insects com- 

 pletely formidable to the human race, and they fre- 

 quently collect together in one large body, and com- 

 pletely cover the country full a quarter of a mile. The 

 negroes feel the utmost terror at this appearance, as 

 their bodies measure upwards of an inch in length, 

 and they are capable of inflicting a most painful sting- 



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