152 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO I667. 



opened, I took out of several of them every way perfect and complete ants, 

 which immediately crept about among the rest, no way differing from many 

 other ants, but by a more feeble motion of their limbs. And this I took for a 

 clear demonstration of what I wished to know, that the film covers the maggot 

 only while she is transforming into an ant, and till fit to shift for herself. 



9. The black speck that is at one end of every such reputed ant's egg, I 

 suppose to be cast out of the maggot in her transformation ; since after it puts 

 on the shape of an ant the speck is quite gone, and the whole body of the ant 

 clear ; since also this speck at the end of the said egg lies always close to the 

 anus of the inclosed ant. 



10. As to their care for their young (by which I mean all the sorts and de- 

 grees aforesaid, from the spawn to the vulgarly called eggs, in every one of 

 which you will find a young ant) it is observable, how upon the breaking up 

 of their banks they make it their business immediately to carry their young out 

 of sight again, laying the several sorts of them in several places and heaps ; 

 which if you mingle again or scatter, you shall, laying but some bits of slate or the 

 like in any place they may come to and get under, after a few hours see all the 

 vermicles and vulgarly called eggs laid in their several and distinst parcels un- 

 der such pieces of slate, &c. provided the place be not so cold as to chill their 

 limbs ; which if it be, by being brought to the fire they will soon recover their 

 strength, and fall to their business again of securing their little ones. 



1 1 . I have observed in summer, that in the morning they bring up those of 

 their young (which are vulgarly called ants' eggs) towards the top of the 

 bank ; so that you may from ten in the morning until five or six in the after- 

 noon find them near the top ; especially about one, two, or three o'clock and 

 later, if the weather be hot, when for the most part they are found on the 

 south side of the bank, so that towards seven or eight at night, if it be cool 

 or likely to rain, you may dig a foot deep before you can find them. 



They know all the sorts of their young so well, that you cannot deceive 

 them ; though you may with fine sugar, salt, or the crums of very white stale 

 bread scattered in the mould where their first true eggs are (as I call them) 

 be mistaken yourself, yet the ants will not, nor touch a bit of what is not their 

 own offspring. 



An Account of a French Book, entitled, Histoire des Joyaux, et 

 des Principales Richesses de V Orient et de V Occident, par le Sig, 

 Chapuzeau. N' 23, p. 429- 



This history treats of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, coral, bezoar, 

 yellow amber, ambergris, indigo, &c. 



