442 
ANT. 
ants in a box of earth standing out from a window 
two stories high. From this place they made ex- 
cursions to the top of the house, where some corn 
lay in a garret, and into a garden which the window 
overlooked. The situation of the nest obliged them 
to go up or down a great way before they could 
possibly meet with any thing; but he observed, 
notwithstanding, that none of them returned empty, 
every one bringing a grain of wheat, rye, or oats, a 
small seed, or even a particle of dry earth, if nothing 
else could be got. Some of them travelled to the 
further end of the garden, from whence they 
brought very heavy loads, and with great labour 
succeeded in conveying them to their magazine. The 
author of this account was amused with the pains 
these ants took to carry grains of corn up a wall to 
the second story, climbing all the way with their 
heads downwards. This retrograde motion must 
considerably increase the difficulty, and will readily 
account for the weariness which they all manifested, 
by stopping at the most convenient places ; indeed 
some were so fatigued and spent that they could 
not reach their journey's end. When this happened, 
the strongest ants, which had carried home their 
load, returned to help them. Sometimes they 
would fall down with their burdens when just within 
reach of the nest : but this in nowise discouraged 
them ; they recovered their corn, renewed their 
efforts, and at length succeeded. The steady per- 
severance and unwearied patience of one of these 
ants was remarkable. She had carried a large grain 
