176 NATURAL HISTORT. 
be wife ; which having no guide, overfeers. 
or ruler, provideth her meat in the fummer, 
and gathereth her food in the harveft.” 
Care of iheir young. — Infedbs, with the 
greateft care and afteftion, carry their young 
in their mouths, which is particularly ob- 
ferved in the ant tribe. Bait their care, in 
general, deferves the greateft admiration.. 
They depofit their eggs in fuch places as fe- 
cure,. produce, and fubfift their offspring.. 
According to the fpecies, their eggs are 
laid in waters, on woods,, or on vegetables, 
where the young find a fubfiftence agreeable 
to their nature.. Particular woods, herbs 
and plants, are chofen by the parent infedl: to 
fofter their future offspring.. Thus nettles,, 
ragwort, cabbage -leaves, oak-leaves, currant 
and goofeberry bullies. See. have their pe- 
culiar infefts.. Some, whofe eggs require 
more warmth, depofit them in the hair of 
animals, the feathers of birds, and even in 
the fcales of fifties.. Others make their nefts 
by perforating earth and; wood, where they 
depofit their eggs with fuch neatnefs as to 
gratify the moft curious obferver. And to. 
prevent their eggs being injured, they inclofc 
them in. the leaves of vegetables, curioufty, 
glued together. 
Food . — Every fpecies of infeft has a food 
peculiar to itfelf. Caterpillars, for inftance 
are not only limited to herbage, but, like- 
wife, to a peculiar kind. Sooner than difo- 
bey this ordinance of Nature, they will perifti. 
with 
