62 Of AN T S. 
a Prey to the Enemy; the Gbje6tion will not 
be fo ftrong as at firft Glance it may feem. 
The Proportion in the Number of the final! 
and large Ant-Flies in moft Settlements (which 
is often nearly equal) proves them to be anfwer- 
able, and defigned for each other. 
From this Variety of Circumftances, it appears 
'at leaft extremely probable that a * Queen Ant was 
originally in the Fly-State $ that afterwards file 
changed her Character, and became the Parent of 
a numerous Pofterity. * 
The Duration of Ant-flies is very fhort. The 
fmail ones feldom continue three Weeks. After 
their Transformation they fpend the firft Week 
or ten Days in traverfmg the Colony, and are to 
be met with in moft of the Lodgments in- 
termixt with the Females and Workers. In a few 
Days more they take the Opportunity of a Sun- 
ftirne to difperfe in the Air, and furnifti feveral 
Creatures with an elegant Repaft. The Majority 
of the large Ant-flies are alfo very t'ranfient. I 
have known a Colony fwarm with them the Be- 
* It may be hence conjenured that a Queen of the 
Jet Ants is in the fame Proportion to her Attendants 
as the large jet Ant-Flies are to them* 
gming. 
