444 
ANT. 
who was too wise a man to think any of the works 
of the creation beneath his notice, was amused with 
the oeconomy of these little creatures, and tried 
several experiments to prove that they communi- 
cated their thoughts to each other. Among other 
things, he put a pot of treacle into a closet which 
was frequented by ants, who collected in consider- 
able numbers, and began to devour its contents : 
observing this, the doctor shook them out, and sus- 
pended the pot by a string which hung from the 
ceiling : one ant, however, more intent perhaps in 
feeding than the rest, was left in the pot, and after 
having satisfied herself attempted to get away, but 
was unable to reach the ground, as the pot was sus- 
pended : she ran round the sides and about the 
bottom, making many trials, but all in vain : at 
length she escaped by travelling up the string and 
along the ceiling, till she reached the wall, and 
from thence found her way to the ground. In 
about half an hour after this a swarm of ants were 
observed to come out, and pass along the ceiling till 
they came to the string, which they descended re- 
gularly, and continued so to do in two columns, 
one passing down and the other returning, till the 
whole of the treacle was consumed. This is a pretty 
strong proof that some communication must pass 
between them, and that, in this instance, the first 
ant must have given the intelligence. 
After the ants have passed the summer in a con- 
stant round of laborious employment, they retire to 
the inmost recesses of their hill, and there remain 
