toh «=©0Ct(<asN NAATTURRAL: HISTOR 
to our own obfervations, in what we fhall briefly 
mention re{fpecting the ant. Sanctorius fays, when — 
the ants carry any corn to their habitations, they 
carry it, exactly in form and intemtion, as they do 
bits of wood, for the conftruction of their dwellings 
merely. or what purpofe fhould they provide corn | 
for the winter, when they pais that feafon without 
motion? But, from what we have lately obferved ~ 
ourfelves, we rather imagine this error arofe from. 
fome perfons having feen them dragging a number of — 
their aurelias, when they have been removed, by a 
hoe or fpade, again to their repofitories ; for thefe 
aurelias are exactly of the fize and colour of a grain 
of wheat. The great prudence ants difcover, isin ~ 
fhelrering themfelves from cold, which, when fe-— 
vere, aloft deprive them of motion. 
At the beginning of March, if the weather be 
warm, they go abroad in fearch ef nourifhment. If 
corn be thrown to ants, they remove it from place to 
lace, by fome draggitig, others lifting, and two or 
hree more pufhing forward, the weighty maffes. A 
grain of wheat muft be confidered in proportion to 
their fize and ftrength. ‘They have the precaution ta 
make a bank, near fix inches high, above the.en- 
trance ; and to make feveral roads, to go out and in, 
by what may be called their terrace walk. From 
May or June, they work until the feafon’s change 
difcontinues their induftry. This labour is entirely. 
for the prefervation of their brood, whichis produced’ 
during the fine weather.) When they attack fruit, 
they tear it into {mall bits, and thus is each ant ena- 
bled to carry home his provender. Liquors which” 
are {weet, they have a mode of faving and carrying 
jome for their young. ‘They fend their foragers to 
feck for food: Ifone of them proves fuccefsful in 
finding fome, he returns to inform the republic, and 
immediately fallies from the town, to capture the 
er ze. “Lo prevent any delay, obftruétion, or con-. 
fuion, they have'two tracks ; one for the party load- 
e’. 2ad the other for that which are going to load 
ee elves Should any be killed, fome ot them in- 
Sat:y remove the flain, to a diftance. When pro- 


