THE ANT. 
337 
to leave the hill, which may be considered as their citadel, 
but run over every part of it, as if to examine its present 
situation, to observe what injuries it has sustained during 
the rigours of winter,* while they slept, and to meditate 
and settle the labours of the day ensuing. 
At the first display of their forces, none but the wingless 
tribe appears, while those furnished with wings remain at 
the bottom. These are the working ants, that first appear, 
and that are always destitute of wings ; the males and 
females, that are furnished with four large wings each, are 
more slow in making their appearance. 
Thus, like bees, they are divided into males and females, 
and the neutral or working tribe. These are all easily dis- 
tinguished from each other ; the females are much larger 
than the males ; the working ants are the smallest of all. 
The two former have wings ; which, however, they some- 
times are divested of; the latter never have any, and upon 
them are devolved all the labours that tend to the welfare 
of the community. The female, also, may be distinguished 
by the colour and structure of her breast, which is a little 
more brown than that of the common ant, and a little 
brighter than that of the male. 
I it the fields of England, ant-hills are formed with but little 
apparent regularity. In tlie more southern provinces of Eu- 
rope, they are constructed with wonderful contrivance, and 
oiler a sight highly worthy a naturalist’s curiosity. These are 
generally formed in the neighbourhood of some large tree and 
a stream of water. The one is considered by the animals as 
the proper place for getting food, the other for supplying 
them with moisture, which they cannot well dispense with. 
The shape of the ant-hill is that of a sugar-loaf, about three 
feet high ; composed of various substances ; leaves, bits of 
wood, sand, earth, bits of gum, and grains of corn. These 
are all united into a compact body, perforated with galleries 
down to the bottom, and winding ways within the body of 
the structure. From this retreat to tlie water, as well as to 
the tree, in different directions, there are many paths worn 
by constant assiduity, and along these the busy insects are 
seen passing and repassing continually ; so that from May, 
or the beginning of June, according to the state of the sea- 
son, they work continually, till the cold weather comes on. 
The chief employment of the working ants, is in sustain- 
ing, not only the idlers at home, but also finding a sufficiency 
of food for themselves. They live upon various provisions, 
* Memoires pour Servira 1’ Histoire des Inseetes, par Charles de Geer. 
VOL. II. W 
