THE AtfTS. 403 



females, and neuters, of which the latter are alone 

 the labourers. These build in the ground an oblong 

 nest, in which there are various passages and apart- 

 ments. In the formation of this nest every individual 

 is occupied : some are employed in securing a firm 

 and durable ground-work, by mixing the earth with 

 a sort of glue produced in their bodies : others col- 

 lect little bits of twigs to serve as rafters, which 

 they place over their passages, to support the co- 

 vering: others again lay piece? across these, and 

 place on them rushes, weeds, and dried grass. The 

 latter they secure so firmly as completely to turn 

 off the water from their magazines. 



A gentleman of Cambridge one day observed an 

 Ant dragging along what, with respect to its 

 strength, might be denominated a piece of timber. 

 Others were severally employed, each in its own 

 way. Presently this little creature came to an as- 

 cent, where the weight of the wood seemed for a 

 while to overpower him : he did not remain long 

 perplexed with it ; for three or four others, observe 

 jng his dilemma, came behind and pushed it up. 

 As soon, however, as he had got it on level ground, 

 they left it to his care, and went to their own work. 

 The piece he was drawing happened to be consi- 

 derably thicker at one end than the other. This 

 soon threw the poor fellow into a fresh difficulty : 

 he unluckily dragged it between two bits of wood. 

 After several fruitless efforts, finding it would not 

 go through, he adopted the only mode that even a 

 man in similar circumstances could have taken j he 

 came behind it, pulled it back again, and turned it 



D dz 



