406 THE ANTS. 



tbey instinctively bite off that end from which the 

 blade is produced. 



From their eggs, the larva?, a small kind of mag- 

 gots without legs, are hatched, which soon transform 

 into white chrysalids. The latter are generally 

 called Ants eggs, and are frequently used for the 

 feeding of young pheasants, partridges and night- 

 ingales. When a nest is disturbed, the Ants, with 

 great care, collect all the young that are unhurt* 

 and form a nest for them again. In their confusion 

 they carry off the eggs and larvae indiscriminately ; 

 but, as soon as quietness is restored among them, 

 these are carefully separated, and each kind lodged 

 in its own appropriate place. 



During the warm season of the year they bring 

 up the maggots nearly to the surface every morn- 

 ing : 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, 

 it rainy weather be coming on, it will even be neces- 

 sary to dig a foot or two deeper than usual to find 

 them. 



In the last change, the little creature tears its- 

 transparent veil, and then bursts into life a perfect 

 insect — destitute of wings if a neuter, and winged 

 if male or female. The winded 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 



