4.52 1N3ECTS. 



by a drying wind, before they have completed their work, the 

 earth ceasing to adhere together, and crumbling into powder, frus- 

 trates all their labours ; as soon as they find this to be the case, 

 they, with one accord, set about destroying the cells which they 

 have begun, but had not been able to cover in, and distribute the 

 materials over the upper story of what they had completed. Un- 

 der these circumstances, M. Huber succeeded in getting them to 

 resume their task by means of an artificial shower. 



In tracing the design of the cells and galleries, each ant ap 

 pears to follow its own fancy. A want of accordance must there- 

 fore frequently take place at the point where their works join ; 

 but they never appear to be embarrassed by any difficulties of this 

 kind. An instance is related, in which two opposite walls were 

 made of such different elevations, that the ceiling of one, if conti- 

 nued, would not have reached above half way of the height of the 

 other. An experienced ant arriving at the spot seemed struck with 

 the defect, and immediately destroyed the lower ceiling, built up 

 the wall to the proper height, and formed a new ceiling with the 

 material of the former. 



Nature, in providing the male and female ants with wings, must 

 evidently have designed them for migration to distant abodes, 

 where they might become the founders of new colonies. Arrived at 

 the period of maturity, and furnished with perfect instruments of 

 flight, they wait only till the warmth of the atmosphere is suffici- 

 ently genial ; and do not quit their nests till the temperature has 

 risen to above 67 of Fahrenheit. Busy swarms of these winged 

 insects are then seen to issue from the nest, and to cover the neigh- 

 bouring plants, expanding their wings, which reflect the sun's rays 

 in a thousand brilliant colours. They are escorted in all their 

 steps by the labourers, who appear to watch them with peculiar'soli- 

 citude, frequently offering them food, and caressing them with their 

 antennae. At length they leave their attendants, and commence 

 their flight, few being destined ever to return to the spot that gave 

 them birth. The act of fecundation is generally performed during 

 their flight. The males, having fulfilled the purpose of nature, are 

 now useless members of the society ; it does not however appear 

 that they are ever massacred by the labourers, as is the case with 

 drones ; but they are left to perish for want of sustenance ; being 



