The Microscope. 325 



found that it took one four hours to carry a load from the latter 

 place to the nest. Sometimes they would become weary before 

 they reached home: in this case it was common to see a stronger 

 ant coming to meet them, and carry home their load.' The fol- 

 lowing curious circumstance came under my own observation: — 

 Having occasion to keep a quantity of ants in the earth for the 

 food of a nightingale, they were put in a large earthern pan; in 

 turning them out from the bag, a number of them had lost their 

 lives; a day or two after, I observed a number of dead ants in one 

 particular spot, about the size of a half crown, placed in regular 

 order at the extreme edge of the pan; on looking more closely, I 

 discovered a number of live ants coming up from the bottom with 

 dead ones in their mouths, making all of them towards this par- 

 ticular spot, depositing their load, and returning again, till they 

 were all brought up to the surface. All these facts show the won- 

 derful instinct of these little creatures. 



The Peach, or Ruby-tail Fly. The most beautiful de- 

 scription of flies, in England, is the peach fly, found in gar- 

 dens, which settles generally on the peach tree; the head is of 

 a very beautiful blue, and the body of crimson. This fly cannot 

 be caught without considerable dexterity: upon dissection it will 

 be found to have a very small sting. 



The following Objects require the greatest care in placing them before 

 the microscope. 



The Blight on Trees. Nothing is more common, in the 

 beginning of summer, than to see the leaves covered with a blight; 

 examine it, and you will see minute insects of a most delicate form: 

 some are black, others green. 



Roses, Pinks, and other Flowers. Among roses, pinks, 

 and other flowers, a small insect may be found almost constantly; 

 it is a little, long, nimble insect, the body like a wasp's with yel- 

 low wings. 



A little insect likewise is found in what is termed the cuckoo 

 spittle, or froth; it has very curious eyes. 



A small white oblong insect sticks to rose-tree leaves, which 

 turns into a little yellow locust. 



There is also a curious insect on sweet-briar leaves in April 

 and May, the horns of which are very remarkable. 



Clothes Moth. This insect, which we may often find in 

 books, is covered with silver-colored scales, which reflect the 

 light, making it appear like pearl; and the scales themselves are 

 of the most delicate and beautiful description. 



The Multipes, or Scolependa has- a very long and slen- 



