NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Attention paid to the females. 



surface: so that, from ten in the morning to 

 about five in the afternoon, these may always be 

 found lodged just under the surface of the 

 ground. And if their hills be examined towards 

 eight in the evening they will be found to have 

 carried them all down ; but if rainy weather be 

 near, it will even be necessary to dig a foot or 

 two deeper than usual to find them. 



In the last metamorphosis, the little creature 

 tears its transparent veil, and then bursts into 

 life a perfect insect, destitute of wings if a neu- 

 ter, and winged if a female. The winged insects 

 are also known by a small erect scale placed on 

 the thread which connects the body and thorax. 

 The males are much smaller than the females, 

 and seldom frequent the common habitation. 

 All the labour the females undergo is in the lay- 

 ing of eggs; and the cold of the winter season 

 always destroys them. The neuters, or labour^ 

 ing ants, (which alone are able to struggle through 

 the cold months) pass these in a torpid state, in 

 which they remain till spring restores to theni 

 their wonted activity. They, therefore, having 

 no consumption for provisions, lay up no stores 

 for winter. The females and neuters are armed 

 with a sting. The males, besides being smaller 

 than the females, are to be distinguished from 

 these by the largeness of their eyes. 



The neuters pay the utmost attention to the 

 females. We are informed by Mr. Gould, in 

 bis Treatise on English Ants, that he placed a. 

 3 



