THE BLACK ANT. 339 



sets to work and spins for itself a cocoon in which it is entirely 

 enveloped. The charge of these cocoons falls upon the workei>, 

 and admirable nurses they are. They take the greatest care of 

 the cocoons, continually sliifting them to higher or lower parts 

 of the nest according to the temperature of the day. If one of 

 these cocoons be opened the insect is foimd lying inside it, 

 nearly as white as its habitation, and having its limbs tucked 

 against its body. Tlie cocodns are of different sizes, the largest 

 containing those of the perfect males and females, the next size 

 tliuse of the larger workers, and the smallest those of the little 

 workers. 



When tlie perfect insects are developed, they often make 

 their appearance in vast multitudes, and, as they are not able 

 to direct their fliglit against the wind, are blown about at 

 random just as the breeze happens to turn. Sometimes they 

 fall into the river, where tlie tish hold high festival over them, 

 and, out of the swarms wliich leave a nest only a very few 

 smwive and found fresh colonies. Indeed, were they all to live, 

 or were even a moderate percentage to survive, the whole countiy 

 would be eaten up by the Wood Ant alone in a lew years. 

 Supposing, however, a pair to have escaped the many dangers 

 of their flight, they disrobe themselves of their wings, ana do 

 so, not by tearing tliem from their insertions, but by simply 

 unhitching them. The wings are thro^vn well forward, and tlie 

 insect sharply presses their ends against the ground, when they 

 immediately fall off, and are left lying where they fell, the Ant 

 running away, apparently quite pleased at being rid of its 

 beautiful winas. 



o 



The habits of other British Ants arc, on the whole, very 

 much like those of the Wood Ant, though each species has 

 some peculiarity of its own. F'or example, the Black Ant 

 (Fo7'm2ca/w^/.7mosa) is remarkable for its sluggish nature, so 

 different from the quick, active fussiness of Ants in general. 

 If a nest of the Black Ant be opened the insects take it very 

 easily, moving gently and quietly as if half-paralysed. How- 

 ever, with all their slowness, they seem to have a very good 

 idea of taking care of tliemselves, and contrive to slip out of 

 sight, while the more active Yellow or Eed Ants would be 

 fussing al'>out, trying one means of escape after another. 



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