ANT. 
443 
of wheat with incredible labour up the wall of the 
house to the box where the nest was, when she 
and her load together tumbled back to the ground. 
She was presently observed to recover the shock, 
and begin to climb again : the second effort met 
with no better success ; she fell as before. This 
misfortune happened three times successively, with- 
out once causing the little animal to quit her hold : 
her efforts, however, became each time weaker, till 
at length, being completely exhausted, she was 
obliged to stop and allow a fellow-labourer to assist 
her in carrying the precious grain to the public 
stock. 
These industrious insects are not particular in 
their food, since they will not only eat grain of all 
sorts, but likewise animal substances. Many of 
them may frequently be seen at work on the carcase 
of a large fly, which they will demolish with great 
expedition. Anatomists sometimes take advantage 
of this appetite in the ants for animal food, and ob- 
tain very admirable skeletons by their assistance, at 
the same time feasting the community in a sump- 
tuous manner. When the skeleton of a small animal 
is required, such as a frog, or any creature about 
that size, the best way is to bury it in a large ant- 
hill, where the bones are sure to be completely 
picked, and the remains left in their proper position. 
Sweets are likewise very acceptable to them ; and 
when they discover a mine of sugar, or any thing 
equally precious, the whole body proceed in a 
string to regale upon its contents. Dr. Franklin, 
