BROWN ANT. «Sf 
flj, or a dead beetle^ a hundred times as 
large as themselves, conveyed, by their 
joint efforts, from a considerable distance. 
Scouts are often sent out to discover food ; 
and, if they bring home any promising 
intelligence, thousands immediately re- 
pair to the spot, following the little 
spy in a single line, one after the other. 
Lucy, What kind of food, mamma, 
do they lay up in store for the winter ? 
Mother. They are in a torpid state 
during most part of the winter, and there- 
fore do not require any provisions. 
The ant, whieh we have here, is the 
formica nigra*, a very common species ; 
but I will now give you some interesting 
particulars of a large brown ant'J^, which 
might be called the mason ant. 
Lucy. I suppose, then, it builds a 
solid house, like that of the industrious 
mason bee? 
Mother. Its dwelling is very ingeni- 
ously built ; but it works in society, as do 
* From Niger, black. 
f Formica Brunnea of Latreille. 
