INSECTS. 489 
THE Ant is a well known insect in our country, as well as 
in the rest of the world. The colour of the Ant is in gen- 
ral a dark red or brown, with ah'ne gloss on the abdomen. 
They are like the bees, divided into three tribes, male, 
female, and neutral. The females and neuters are fur- 
nished with stings for their defence ; the males are wholly 
destitute of them. The males and females are in proper 
season furnished with wings, but the neuters have none, 
and they are doomed always to labour and drudgery on 
the hill. This hill is constructed with considerable art and 
labour j it is composed of leaves, bits of wood, sand, earth, 
and gum from the trees, which are all united into a mass, 
perforated with galleries to give access to the numerous 
cells which it contains. From this hill there are several 
paths, worn by the constant passing and repassing of these 
creatures; and it is worthy the admiration of the natural- 
ist to consider how busy the whole legion appears, in 
bringing bits of straw, dead bodies of other insects, or in 
carrying away their eggs, if any danger threatens their 
republic. Their sense of smell is very keen, and they dis- 
cover at a great distance any food they may be in search 
of. 
ORDER VI. 2cptt)optcra. 2Ffrc J&otljiS anil 
THE insects included in this order are all remarkable for 
their beauty. Their wings are membranous and veined 
like those of the dragon flies, and their allies, but instead 
of being naked they are covered by close-set scales of the 
most delicate texture, and most brilliant colours. The 
mouth is furnished with a spiral trunk or tongue, by 
which nectar is sucked from the flowers ; but in other re- 
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