THE ANTS. 411 



berty to search where they pleased ; and they 

 would all march off before night. They were so 

 very numerous that they would sometimes be two 

 or three hours in passing, though they went very 

 fast." 



The following is an account of three different 

 kinds of Ants that were observed in New South 

 Wales by the gentlemen in the expedition under 

 captain Cook. 



ft Some are (says the writer) as green as a leaf, 

 and live upon trees, where they build their nests of 

 various sizes, between that of a man's head and his 

 fist. These nests are of a very curious structure : 

 they are formed by bending down several of the 

 leaves, each of which is as broad as a man's hand, 

 and glueing the points of them together, so as to 

 form a purse. The viscous matter used for this pur- 

 pose is an animal juice which nature has enabled 

 them to elaborate. Their method of first bending 

 down the leaves we had no opportunity to observe ; 

 but we saw thousands uniting all their strength 

 to hold them in this position, while other busy 

 multitudes were employed within, in applying this 

 gluten that was to prevent their returning back. 

 To satisfy ourselves that the leaves were bent and 

 held down by the effort of these diminutive artifi- 

 cers, we disturbed them in their work ; and as soon 

 as they were driven from their station, the leaves on 

 which they were employed sprang up with a force 

 much greater than we could have thought them 

 able to conquer by any combination of their 

 strengh. But, though we gratified our curiosity at 

 4 



