THE ANT. 



Anecdote by Mr. GoulcU 



female which he calls a queen, of the small black 

 ants, in a box, in the sliding cover of which there 

 was an opening sufficient for the labourers to 

 pass backwards and forwards, but so narrow as 

 to confine the queen. One part of them was 

 constantly in waiting and surrounded her, whilst 

 others went out in search of provisions. By 

 some misfortune she died. The ants, as if not 

 apprised of her death continued their obedi- 

 ence. They even removed her from one part of 

 the box to another, and treated her with the 

 same formality as if she had been alive. This 

 lasted about two months; at the end of which 

 the cover being opened, they forsook the box, 

 and carried her off. 



These insects frequently swarm on trees, where 

 they have been supposed to do much injury. In 

 Switzerland, however, they are looked upon as 

 very serviceable, and are there compelled to re- 

 main in the trees, in order to destroy the cater- 

 pillars. This is done by hanging a pouch full of 

 ants upon a tree, the root of which is smeared 

 with wet clay or pitch to prevent their escape: 

 in consequence of this, they are soon compelled 

 by hunger to seize upon the caterpillars and de- 

 vour them. 



A very grateful acid is said to be obtained 

 from ants by distillation. Mr. Consett, while 

 walking with a young gentleman in a wood near 

 Gottenburg in Sweden, observed a person sit 

 down on an ant-hill, and with a great Degree of 



