Microscopical Essays, ^07 



the rifmg of the fun, not one in a thoufand is to be found with 

 four wings, unlefs the morning continues rainy, when here and 

 there a folitary being is feen winging it's way from one place to 

 another, as if felicitous only to avoid it's numerous enemies, par- 

 ticularly various fpecies of ants, which are hunting on every fpray, 

 on every leaf, and in every poflible place, for this unhappy race, 

 of which, probably, not a pair in many millions get into a place 

 of fafety, fulfil the firft law of nature, and lay the foundation of 

 a new community. 



Not only all kinds of ants, birds, and carnivorous reptiles, as 

 we'll as infecls, are upon the hunt for them, but the inhabitants 

 of many countries eat them. 



They are now become, from one of the moll aclive, induftrious, 

 and rapacious, from one of the molt fierce and implacable little 

 animals in the world, the moft innocent, helplefs, and cowardly ! 

 never making the leaft refiftance to the fmalleft ant. The ants 

 are to be feen on every fide in infinite numbers, of various fpecies 

 and fizes, dragging thefe annual viftims of the laws of nature to 

 their different nefts. It is wonderful that a pair mould ever efcape 

 fo many dangers, and get into a place of fecurity. Some, how- 

 ever, are fo fortunate; and being found by the labouring 

 infecls that are continually running about the furface of the 

 ground under their covered galleries, the little induftrious crea- 

 tures immediately inclofe them in a fmall chamber of clay, fuit- 

 able to their fize, into which at firft they leave but one fmall en- 

 trance, large enough for themfeives and the foldiers to go in and 

 out, but much too little for either of the royal pair to make ufe 

 of ; and when neceffity obliges them to make more entrances, 



P P 2 they 



