FORMICA. 
re ane sas ed of other naturalifts. On this occafion 
and under favour of the darknefs which 
fte r this union of the fexes, — males dic, or at leaft 
never retura to the neft; the females, on the contrary, 
either return of their own aeco re or are carried thither by 
attended with the utmoit care 
o 
and tendernefs. The eggs they depofit are conveye 
srt! 9 rece ceptacle cle, and, oe hatched, become the 
= eggs are {ma 
white, thick, and nes an 
fond 3 is too mo beaey fos one or more 
s and larve are ae brought out of the 
warmth of the in ; and 
they affume the pupa form hen ia 
felt, howeve ver “confiderable in i and, by 
difficulty t Svereowie their victim. 
nd devour (inal qnadrupeds, birds, and 
ind them ina helplefs ftate, incapable 
ing vee i s3; and ag in the end, muit 
the fate o ort : 
t every kind, — shina or veget 
are, however, mo rious to the former, and 
others to the latter ; thongh, oie prefled with hunger, 
they devour either indifcriminately. 
In the e evening, when their labour is over, the ant 
faid to make their repalt of whatever provilio n they ise 
colle&ted in the colre ~ the day ; for their care and fore- 
of oe vilion againft the winter, 
ion 8, _ however they t 
mens During the 
either be e: ants ae 
rious ee animals 
nte {warm in every region of the globe. .In melee 
countr ies, and more efpec cially thofe which abound in woods, 
ublefome. ‘Lhe ravages of 
thefe c ol ea with 
affords a memora 
thefe ee infgoifican creatures poffefs to 
nei : a was fo exce t it was deemed See to 
wn the ie of aie fanding rops of canes, ae 
turn e the earth pa ela the plantations, in order 
deftroy thofe ants which had fixed their habitations-in nee 
canes, and at their roots, Thele were to be.:replaced My 
new crops: and if ae remedy proved ineffeCtual, it was 
determined to abandon the culture of the canes oS 
After fuftaning oS ble lofs, and having in en~ 
deavoured by ever s to exterminate the legions Sof ants 
with which the country was infefted, without refoiting to 
inhabitants were, however, at length 
Rea untry, im ma 
the {pace of miles with them. 
hills in torrents; the plantations were every where na 
avenue leadin; 
prey to them; and even e birds, which they seed 
wherever ee Fire “il hey were fo haraffed as to fall 
Stream a water retarded their 
a fhort time: he remoft columns ae 
o the water to certain dea th, and ere 
which dividing 
the waters, afforded means a the a to r in fe- 
fire itfelf, _ will chou wee deter -the 
rn ain t] eir attacks, was in vain 
mployec 
fue which, 
fs 
The appearance of the: ‘ants in ie formidable hodier! ig 
cary difa 
indeed efteemed rather a eee advantage, in thof 
countries; becaute they affift, in a very material re 
gree, in the deftruction YE pa. and other venomous rep- 
tiles, when they can feize on them b {u . ar 
affur . Merian, that the -{pecies cephalotes.i 
called in Surinam the ants of vifitation, -as they ear only 
at certain feafons, or about once in twa or three years. . Its 
multitudes*receive a cheerful welcome from the natives, who 
throw open the doors of their houfes to admit them: the 
ants enter, tr phased part. of their uw and, after 
deitroying:.the :rats, mice; fcorpions, . or. ceck- 
roaches, and other vermin silage herein, agai take: their 
departure. 
Ants may ie edfily, kil'ed by means es arfene, kneaded 
with provifion:-of -any kinds and which: being thrown. into 
the neft, wilk be greedily confumed by them.. ing 
rp and painful, the fevere fenfation of 
ure 0 
A very 
tion. Se Fo ric Acid. 
- The ants are probably more numerous, in refpe At 
naam ‘than we are at prefent awarez.the following coe 
o be the moft material- . et: already. defcribed. 
‘Species.’ 
Black ; 
HERCUPANE Ae ~ “ghdomen ovate ; ‘ea ferris 
bor ginous. 
