I 
Of ANT S. 6 1 
expreffed. The Common Ants immediately fur- 
rounded the Females, took care of the Eggs, and 
in a fhort Period made an Apartment in the Earth 
fit to receive them. It may alfo be obferved, that 
there were no Common Ants in the Hills where 
I found the above Clufters. In all probability they 
were originally large Ant-Flies, which having 
been expelled their Colonies, and not falling Vic¬ 
tims to their Adversaries, ailociated together in this 
Manner, and furvived the Winter. 
If we alfo recollect, that there are but three 
Sorts of Eggs, Vermicles, and Aurelia’s in a Set¬ 
tlement ; more than which I could never difco- 
ver; it may he efteemed a farther Argument to 
ilrengthen the Preemption. 
The chief Objedlion .againft it, is the Number 
of Ant-Flies, which, in the Hill, Jet, Yellow, 
and fmall Black Colonies, frequently amount to 
two or three hundred, or more. But, on the other 
hand, if we confider that the moft obvious Ufe of 
thefe Flies is for the Suftenance of other Animals; 
that perhaps not one in fifty arrives to Perfec¬ 
tion ; that the generality of them are difcarded 
by the Workers, or die in the Colony, or become 
a Prey 
