278 POPULAR SCRIPTURE ZOOLOGY.

little creatures had been the subject, until lately, when the
researches of many eminent naturalists brought to light the
fact that the supposed grains of corn which are brought
out in the sunshine, and defended with so much care by
these industrious insects, are really cocoons, containing the
embryo ants, thus watched over by their careful nurses.
This circumstance at first sight appears inconsistent with,
and indeed contrary to, the text; but Messrs. Kirby and
Spence endeavour to reconcile the difference in the follow-
ing manner :—“Till the manners of exotic ants are more
accurately explored, it would be rash to affirm that no ants
have stores of provisions; for although during the cold
of our winters in this country, they remain in a state of
torpidity, having no need of food, yet in warmer regions,
during the rainy season, when they are probably confined
to their nest, a store of provisions may be necessary for
them. Solomon’s lesson to the sluggard has generally been ©
adduced as a strong confirmation of the ancient opinion : it
can, however, only relate to the species of a warm climate,
the habits of which are probably different from those of a
cold one, so that his words, as commonly interpreted, may
be perfectly correct and consistent with nature, yet not be
at all applicable to the species that are indigenous to Europe.