292 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. [Oh. XVII. 



soon cover the nest, and run up and down the branches in 

 busy and terrified streams. These ants are armed with 

 nippers, which inflict a disagreeable and startling pinch ; 

 and it is desirable not to remain long under the tree after 

 they are disturbed. The effect of their bites, however, is 

 perfectly transitory. 



In houses ants are everywhere great pests. A small 

 reddish species, extremely fond of sugar and other sweets, 

 and a slender black one, both abound, and can only be kept 

 out of the meat-safes and sugar-basins by the stratagem of 

 immersing the legs of the tables supporting them in cups of 

 water. This, however, does not entirely prevent their ap- 

 proach without further care ; for a film of dust settles upon 

 the' surface of the water in the course of a day or two, form- 

 ing a sufficiently stable bridge to enable the little creatures 

 to cross over. To the insect-collector they are a terrible 

 nuisance, for the freshly-killed butterflies, &c., are liable to 

 be attacked and ruined in a very short time, if the ants by 

 any accident obtain access to them. . Thus, on more than 

 one occasion, I have laid my newly-captured specimens upon 

 the protected table, fondly beheving them to be secure, when 

 lo ! after a few hours, I have found every paper swarming, 

 and already the wings alone of some specimens left. The cir- 

 cumstance had arisen from the simple accident of the end of 

 a strap lying upon the table having fallen to the ground, 

 thus forming a convenient means of communication, of which 

 the hungry ants had not scrupled to avail themselves. In 

 such cases they always attack and destroy the last captured 

 and most succulent insects. Camphor, however, is an ef- 

 fectual protection against these marauders, and the remedy 

 is therefore tolerably easy if an ordinary amount of care is 

 used. 



