y6 Of ANTS. 
ous, and occafion Damps. However, in very un- 
feafonable Weather they all withdraw the Young 
into lower Apartments. 
The next and moll laborious Exerdfe belong¬ 
ing to the working Ants, is feeding the Maggots 
or Vermicles. This Part of their laduftry is the 
moft uninterrupted of all, and from which no¬ 
thing but Violence of Rains can tempt them tode- 
fiiL They mifemploy no Moment, but are reftlefs 
in the Purfuit of proper Nouriihment to fuccour 
the Family. You may fee Troops going out in 
Search, andNumbers returning Home with Plenty 
of Provifions, which they bring to the Lodgments^ 
and diftribute amongfl: the Vermicles as Neceffity 
demands. We cannot form a clearer Preception 
of their indefatigable Pains, than from a Calcu¬ 
lation of a lingle Colony. If we fuppofe a Bank of 
Hill Ants to amount (which is a moderate Eftimate) 
to fix Thoufand, they will have near an equal 
Number of Vermicles to maintain, and which are 
to be brought to Perfection in the Summer Months. 
Befides thefe, there is alfo the fucceedmg Years 
Progeny, which is, at Intervals, to be provided 
for. Moreover, the Queen, with her Attendants, 
and all the Workers thernfelves, require a great 
and repeated Supply. All which Confiderations 
fwell 
