ENTOMOLOGY. 



Continuation of the History of the African Ants. 



THE first object of admiration which strikes the spec- 

 tator upon opening their hills, is the behaviour of the 

 soldiers. If a breach be made in their building with a 

 hoe or pickaxe, in a few seconds a soldier will run out 

 and walk about the breach, as if to see wether the ene- 

 my is gone, or what is the cause of the attack. He will 

 sometimes go in again as if to give the alarm, but most 

 frequently in a short time is followed by two or three 

 others, who run as fast as they can, who are soon overtaken 

 by a large body who rush out as fast as the breach will 

 permit them, the number increasing as long as any one 

 batters the building. It is not easy to describe the rage 

 and fury they shew; in their hurry they frequently miss 

 their hold and tumble down the sides of the hill but recover 

 themselves as quickly as possible, and bite every thing 

 they run against. On the other hand, if they are left 

 without interruption, they will in less than half an hour 

 retire into the nest, as if they supposed the wonderful 

 animal that damaged their castle was gone beyond their 

 reach. Before the soldiers are all gone in, the labourers 

 come forth, all in motion, and hastening towards the breach 

 every one with a burthen of mortar in his mouth ready 

 tempered. This they stick upon the breach as fast as 

 they come up, and although there are thousands of them 

 there is no hurry or confusion, but a regular wall gra- 

 dually arises, filling up the chasm. Here and there a 

 solitary soldier will be seen, who saunters about but never 

 touches the mortar either to lift or carry it, now and then 

 he will raise his head and with his forceps beat upon the 

 building as if to encourage the others, upon which a loud 



