INSECTS AND VERMES. 277 



ANTS. 



August 23. Every ant-hill about this 

 time is in a strange hurry and confusion ; 

 and all the winged ants, agitated by some 

 violent impulse, are leaving their homes, 

 and, bent on emigration, swarm by myriads 

 in the air, to the great emolument of the 

 hirundines, which fare luxuriously. Those 

 that escape the swallows return no more to 

 their nests, but looking out for fresh settle- 

 ments, lay a foundation for future colonies. 

 All the females at this time are pregnant : 

 the males that escape being eaten, wander 

 away and die. 



October 2. Flying-ants, male and fe- 

 male, 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 appear- 

 ance from the drain which goes under the 

 fruit wall ; filling the air and the adjoining 

 trees and shrubs with their numbers. The 

 females were full of eggs. This late 

 swarming is probably owing to the back- 



