344 OBSERVATIONS ON 



ANTS. 



August 23. Every ant-hill about this time is in a strange 

 hurry and confusion ; and all the winged ants, agitated by some 

 violent impulse, are leaving their homes, and, bent on emigration, 

 swarm by myriads in the air, to the great emolument of the 

 hirundines, which fare luxuriously. Those that escape the swal- 

 lows return no more to their nests, but looking out for fresh 

 settlements, lay a foundation for future colonies. All the females 

 at this time are pregnant : the males that escape being eaten, 

 wander away and die. 



October 2. Flying ants, male and female, usually swarm and 

 migrate on hot sunny days in August and September ; but this 

 day a vast emigration took place in my garden, and myriads came 

 forth, in appearance from the drain which goes under the fruit- 

 wall ; filling the air and the adjoining trees and shrubs with their 

 numbers. The females were full of eggs. This late swarming is 

 probably owing to the backward, wet season. The day following, 

 not one flying ant was to be seen. 1 



Horse-ants travel home to their nests laden with flies, which 

 they have caught, and the aurelise of smaller ants, which they 

 seize by violence. 



GLOW-WORMS. 2 



By observing two glow-worms which were brought from the 

 field to the bank in the garden, it appeared to us, that these little 

 creatures put out their lamps between eleven and twelve, and 

 shine no more for the rest of the night. 



Male glow-worms, attracted by the light of the candles, come 

 into the parlour. 



EARTH-WORMS. 



Earth-worms make their casts most in mild weather about 

 March and April ; they do not lie torpid in winter, but come 

 forth when there is no frost ; they travel about in rainy nights, as 



1 [White does not mention that the winged ants pluck off their wings with their 

 own jaws, and then proceed to form new colonies.] 



2 [See note to p.^57-] 



