Page:An Account of English Ants (Gould, 1747, IA accountofenglish00goul).pdf/46

24 In summer they often hift their Quarters, and remove from Cell to Cell, ditributing uch a quantity of Eggs, as they thing convenient In whatever Apartment a Queen Ant condecends to be preent, he commands Obedience and Repect. An univeral Gladnes preads itelf through the whole Cell, which is expreed by particular Acts of Joy and Exultation. They have a peculiar Way of kipping, leaping, and tanding upon their Hind Legs, and prancing with the others. Thee Frolicks they make ue of, both to congratulate each other when they meet, and to how their Regard for the Queen. Some of them gently walk over her, others dance round her, and all endeavour to exert their Loyalty and Affection. She is generally encircled with a Cluter of Attendants, who, if you eparate them from her, oon collect themelves into a Body, and incloe her in the midt. Howoever romantick this Decription may appear, it may eaily be proved by an obvious Experiment. If you place a Queen Ant with her Retinue under a Glas, you will in a few Moments be convinced of the Honour they pay, and Eteem they entertain for her. There cannot be a more remarkable Intance than what happened to a Black Queen, the beginning of lat Spring. I had placed her with a large Retinue in a liding box, Rh