THE ANTS. 407 



the labour the females undergo is in the laying of 

 eggs ; and the cold of the winter season always de- 

 troys them. The neuters, or labouring Ants, 

 which alone are able to struggle through the cold 

 jmonths, pass these in a torpid state, in which they 

 remain till spring restores to them their wonted ac- 

 tivity. They, therefore, having no consumption for 

 provisions, lay up no stores for winter. 



The labouring Ants pay the utmost attention to 

 the females. Mr. Gould, the author of a small 

 treatise on English Ants, placed a female that 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 obedience. 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 j at the end of which the cover 

 being opened, they forsook the box, and carried her 

 off. 



Ants frequently swarm on trees, where they have 

 been supposed to do much injury. But this seems 

 a very unjust charge against them: for in Switzer- 

 land they are even compelled to remain in the trees, 

 in order to destroy the caterpillars. 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 



Dd 4 



