ON THE PHYSICAL POWER OP INSECTS. 
233 
that they baffle the ingenuity of Man to save from them his valuables, pushing 
forward their architectural designs to the very heart of well-furnished habitations, 
where they without fail destroy all that is of vegetable or animal origin. Thus 
in the tropical regions of South America Humboldt states that it is extremely 
rare to obtain a paper fifty or sixty years old, owing to the difficulty of excluding 
the White Ants. 
Painful as it must be for the inhabitants of such latitudes to have to contend 
with an enemy they can see no hope of removing, these little creatures can only be 
looked upon as active and useful labourers in the work of disintegration, where 
the fertility of the climate calls for a more rapid conversion of dead animal or 
vegetable matter into the elements of reproduction. 
The Ants (Formica ccespitum) of our'own island are industrious co-operative 
labourers, endued with a power suited to the wants of a temperate region. The 
greater part of their masonic labour is performed during the night, or at least in 
gloomy weather; it is well ascertained that they use no other cement than 
water in the construction of their varied habitations; hence in dry weather many 
of their operations are abandoned. 
In a sandy soil I found that the favourite resort for their encampments was 
under large thin flat stones. Galleries led in every direction from under the stone 
through the soil; and this covering, while it protected the nest from rain, 
was quickly heated by the sun’s rays. The eggs are invariably placed close 
under it; on suddenly raising these stones, a scene of much bustle ensues, and 
great solicitude is displayed by the workers for the safety of the eggs and grubs, the 
latter being rapidly carried away through the galleries under ground. These pro¬ 
ceedings leave a pleasing impression on the mind of the observer; and it is striking 
to see such tender care exercised in so small a circle. I have always found 
the Ants of Britain more omnivorous than their tropical brethren. In the early 
part of spring they attack animal matter with great avidity; any small animal 
placed in a large nest is soon reduced to a skeleton; and as this experiment is 
frequently tried, with a view to obtain a preparation of bones too tender and 
fragile to be easily cleaned by the ordinary methods, I may mention that I have 
rarely seen it succeed; for the Ants in eating away the flesh seldom spare the 
tenderer parts of the bone. 
The Mason Ants are frequently seen dragging to their hills loads of provisions 
far exceeding their own size and weight. The perseverance they display in 
overcoming the difficulties of very rough roads has arrested the attention of 
observers in all ages. Hence, in the fables of old, the Ant is made to figure as a 
pattern of industry, frugality, and foresight. 
The more strict observations of latter days have proved that Ants stand in no 
need of such stores of food. They pass the whole winter in a torpid state. I 
