366 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



in size at this period of their existence ; in good damp seasons, 

 and perhaps in favorable localities, they have a well-fed, plump 

 appearance, whereas under unfavorable circumstances they pre- 

 sent a slender and measly complexion. They crawl to the mouth 

 of the hole in the first in^anpe, and at once take wing. The males 

 and females take no particular notice of each other until they have 

 made their preliminary flight, which is but short ; they soon alight 

 on the ground, or oh the dinner-table, as the case may be, making 

 direct for a light if their flight is after dark. 



" As soon as they obtain a footing after their descent from their 

 aerial expedition, both males and females commence to run a most 

 headlong and reckless career. Nothing appears to arrest their 

 progress. The female, who is larger and more full in figure than 

 the male, is also slower in her movements. ' She stops from time 

 to time, and performs slow and singular contortions with the hind- 

 er portion of her body. I can't help thinking that she gives out 

 some peculiar odor at these times — at all events, the males are 

 sensible of the scent of the females, and if they, in their more rapid 

 quartering of the ground, pass over the track of a female, their 

 excitement and activity is redoubled, and they take Up the run- 

 ning with singular pertinacity. 



" Up to this point both male and female ant retain their wings, 

 and it is as difficult to deprive them of these members as it is to 

 pull the wings from a house-fly. No sooner, however, does the 

 male ant overtake the female, than he makes a dash at the but- 

 too-willing flirt, and seizes (gently, I presume) the extreme end 

 of her plump figure with his jaws. This is the signal to the fe- 

 male that she no longer requires her wings, and at once, with a 

 jerk, both male and female throw from them these now useless en- 

 cumbrances. Away they go, madam towing my lord, who never 

 quits his hold, but clings to the skirts of his lady-love in a most 

 gallant manner. They race over stock and stone, over garden 

 walk, veranda, or dinner-table, as the case may be, until they joint- 

 ly fall victims to the ever- watchful birds, beasts, or fishes, who are 

 all on the qui vive for the dainty morsel. 



" Should they escape all their numerous enemies, and not suc- 

 ceed in being sw«)t from the table by the ever-watchful kitmut- 

 gar, the female soon selects for her home, in which to spend the 

 honeymoon of her existence, some spot which seems adapted for 

 the end which she has in view. If she is a prudent, cautious 

 dame, she picks out some soft nodule of earth moistened by the 



