HYMENOPTERAr 
GENUS 9.—FORMICA, THE ANT. 
The males and females are winged; the neuters 
apterous ; the females and neuters are armed with a 
Ring. . The males are fmaller than the females and 
neuters, and are diftinguilhable by the largenefs of 
their eyes. 
Ants are diftinguifhed by a little upright fcale be¬ 
tween the thorax and abdomen. 
The working ants labour inceffantly to fupply the 
larvae with provifions, and are conflantly employed 
in preferving the chryfalids from, humidity in wet 
feafons, or expofmg them to the warmth of the fun 
when it is fair. Thefe chryfalids are much larger 
than the perfect infed, yet are carried about by them 
with eafe. 
With good reafon, a neft of ants is called a well re¬ 
gulated republic. Their peace, union, good under- 
flanding and mutual afiiftance deferve the notice of 
an obferver. The form of a nell is that of an arched 
vault, leading into a cave contrived by their remov¬ 
ing the mould with their jaws. 
Great police in their little labours prevents dis¬ 
order and confufion; each has its talk ; while one 
cafts out the particle of mould that it has loofened, 
another is returning home to work. All of them em¬ 
ployed in forming themfelves a retreat of the deptji 
of 
