100 Of ANTS. 
proaches of young Birds or Infedls. The Hill and 
Jet Ants are generally fecured by the Places of their 
Refidence. The Surface of theTrees defends their 
Progeny from foreign Attacks, and prevents their 
falling a Prey to voracious Enemies. Thefe Spe¬ 
cies, in their Vermicular and Aurelia State, do 
not appear to lofemany of theirYoung; and hence 
in fuch Colonies the Flies are exceeding numerous, 
which may perhaps be of great Service in Apply¬ 
ing feveral Creatures with Suftenance. It may be 
noted, that at the Time when thefe Flies leave 
their Settlements, young Birds are nearly full 
grown, and their Stomachs, as they are better 
able to digeft, may demand a ftronger Aliment. 
There are undoubtedly other Ends, and probably 
more wonderful ones, anfwered by this Variety 
of Ants •, but what they are, Philofophy has not 
difcovered. 
It may be mentioned as another and very im¬ 
portant Ufe of Ants in general, that there is pre¬ 
pared from them, by Diflillation, an * acid Spirit 
* Spiritus Formicarum ; their acid Smell refrelhcs 
the vital Spirits, and are faid to care the Lepra and Len~ 
tigo. James 's Medicinal Dictionary Vol. 2 . 
