31 



virtue among ants, exhibited from sun-rise to 

 sun-set. Viewing their motions while the wag- 

 gon approached, I observed a little ant, with 

 great exertion, bringing a large prickly seed 

 home to the general magazine, which it carried 

 in its mouth. When its progress at any time 

 was impeded by a stalk of grass lying across its 

 path, it immediately turned about and dragged 

 it after it. I observed great ingenuity in this 

 contrivance. On arriving at the mouth of its 

 nest, which was under ground, it left the seed 

 above, ran into the hole, and soon brought out 

 a large ant, who, laying hold of the seed, 

 carried it down with the greatest ease. How 

 it conveyed the information to the other that 

 his assistance was required, I could not con- 

 jecture, but the great ant seemed perfectly 

 aware of the business on which he was called." 



SINGULAR PROPERTIES OF THE PAPAW-TREE. 



The Papaw-tree (Carica papaya) deserves a 

 place in every large hot-house, on account of 

 its possessing a remarkable property which has 

 been long known to those who have resided in 

 the West Indies, but which has only of late 



