4IO THE ANTS. 



spark of fire ; and they are so thick among the 

 boughs in some places that one shall be covered 

 with them before he is aware. These creatures 

 have nests on great trees, placed on the body be- 

 tween the limbs : some of their nests are as big as a 

 hogshead. This is their winter habitation ; for in 

 the wet season they all repair to these their cities, 

 where they preserve their eggs. 



" In the dry season, when they leave their nests, 

 they swarm all over the woodlands ; for they never 

 trouble the savannahs : great paths, three or four 

 inches broad, made by them, may be seen in the 

 woods. They go out light, but bring home heavy 

 loads on their backs, all of the same substance, and 

 equal in size. I never observed any thing besides 

 pieces of green leaves, so big that I could scarcely 

 see the insect for his burthen ; yet, they would 

 march stoutly, and so many were pressing forward 

 that it was a very pretty sight, for the path looked 

 perfectly green with them. 



" There was one sort of Ants of a black colour, 

 tolerably large, with long legs. These would march 

 in troops, as if they were busy in seeking some- 

 what ; they were always in haste, and always fol- 

 lowed their leaders, let them go where they would. 

 They had no beaten paths to walk in, but rambled 

 about like hunters. Sometimes a band of these 

 Ants would happen to march through our huts, over 

 our beds, or into our pavilions, nay sometimes into 

 our chests, and there ransack every part ; and 

 wherever the foremost went the rest all came after. 

 We never disturbed them, but gave them free Ji- 



