434 OBSERVATIONS ON 



this time are pregnant : the males that escape being eaten, 

 wander away and die. 



October 2. Flying ants, male and female, usually 

 swarm and migrate on hot sunny days in August and 

 September ; but this day a vast emigration took place in 

 my garden, and myriads came forth, in appearance from 

 the drain which goes under the fruit wall ; filling the air 

 and the adjoining trees and shrubs with their numbers. 

 The females were fuU of eggs. This late swarming is 

 probably owing to the backward, wet season. The 

 day following, not one flying ant was to be seen. 



Horse-ants travel home to their nests laden with flies, 

 which they have caught, and the aureliae of smaller ants, 

 which they seize by violence. 



GLOW-WORMS 



By observing two glow-worms which were brought 

 from the field to the bank in the garden, it appeared to us, 

 that these little creatures put out their lamps between eleven 

 and twelve, and shine no more for the rest of the night. 



Male glow-worms, attracted by the light of the candles, 

 come into the parlour. 



EARTH-WORMS 



Earth-worms make their casts most in mild weather 

 about March and April ; they do not lie torpid in winter, 

 but come forth when there is no frost ; they travel about in 

 rainy nights, as appears from their sinuous tracks on the 

 soft muddy soil, perhaps in search of food. 



When earth-worms lie out a-nights on the turf, though 

 they extend their bodies a great way, they do not quite 

 leave their holes, but keep the ends of their tails fixed 

 therein, so that on the least alarm they can retire with 

 precipitation under the earth. Whatever food falls 

 within their reach when thus extended, they seem to be 

 content with, such as blades of grass, straws, fallen leaves, 



