t4* OF INSTINCT, SECT. XVI. 16. 4, 



are obferved to go into their winter t>eds fat and ftrong, but re- 

 turn to day light in the fpring feafon very lean and feeble. The 

 common flies fleep during the winter without any provificn for 

 their ncurifhrnent, and are daily revived by the warmth of the 

 fun, or of our fires. Thefe whenever they fee light endeavour 

 to approach it, having obferved, that by its greater vicinity they 

 get free from the degree of torpor that the cold produces ; and 

 are hence induced perpetually to burn themfelves in our candles : 

 deceived, like mankind, by the mifapplication of their knowl- 

 edge. Whilfl many of the fubterraneous infecls, as the com- 

 mon worms, feem to retreat fo deep into the earth as not to be 

 enlivened or awakened by the difference of our winter days ; 

 and flop up their holes with leaves or ftraws, to prevent the 

 frofls from injuring them, or the centipes from devouring them* 

 The habits of peace, or the flratagems of war, of thefe fubterra- 

 nean nations are covered from our view ; but a friend of mine 

 prevailed on a diftreffed worm to enter the hole of another worm 

 on a bowling-green, and he prefently returned much wounded 

 about his head. And I once faw a worm rife haflily out of the 

 earth into the fun-fhine, and obferved a centipes hanging at its 

 tail : the centipes nimbly quitted the tail, and feizing the worm 

 about irs middle, cut it in half with its forceps, and preyed upon 

 one part, while the other efcaped. Which evinces they have 

 defign in flopping the mouths of their habitations. 



4. The wafp of this country fixes his habitation under ground, 

 that he may not be affecled with the various changes of our 

 climate ; but in Jamaica he hangs it on the bough of a tree, 

 where the feafon s are lefs fevere. He weaves a very curious 

 paper of vegetable fibres to cover his nefl, which is conftrucled 

 on the lame principle with that of the bee, but with a different 

 material ; but as his prey confifts of flefh, fruits, and iniedb, 

 which are perifhable commodities, he can lay up no provender 

 for the winter. 



M. de la Loubiere, in his relation of Siam, fays, That in a 

 part of that kingdom, which lies open to great inundations, all 

 the ants make their fettlemenrs upon trees ; no ants' nefts are to 

 be feen any where elfe." Whereas in our country the ground 

 is their only fituation. From the icriptural account of thefe in- 

 fects, one might be led to fufpedl, thatinfome climates they lay 

 up a provifion for the winter, (Prov. vi. 6. xxx. 25-) Origen af- 

 firms the fame, (Com, Celf. L. 4.) But it is generally believed 

 thar in this country they do not. The white ants of the coait 

 of Africa make themfelves pyramids eight or ten feet high, on 

 a bafe of about the iame width, with a fmooth furface of rich 

 clay, exceffively hard and well built, which appear at a diftance 



