of the field, by means of a turf gangway or ladder. Not being satisfied with the population of my formicary, I removed from an adjacent field, as cautiously as possible, two ant-hills with all their property, and placed them on the table, so as to form one mass. No sooner had the shock occasioned by the suddenly imposed heap subsided, than on all sides a rushing of the old tenantry among the invaders was observed on crossing their antennae, and thus, not recognizing them as friends, an indiscrimi nate battle took place, and for some time my efforts to put a stop to the war were fruitless. At last I threw among the combatants a handful of steeped oats, and this had the desired effect each party seizing as much of the booty as they could obtain, conveyed it to their several holes, and as I watched when the field was clear, I imposed a temporary wall of separation. The weather was cold, and at sunset very few were stirring. Next morning, I found the new comers busily employed in repairing their apartments, airing their pupae, and examining their situation. As I was not afraid of a battle when they had so much else to do, I removed the barrier, and tapped for the aborigines to appear; and I was happy to observe, that although there were a few combats, yet on the whole they seemed to coalesce. About mid-day, I was much amused by observing some ants who had found their way to the water by which the formicary was insulated, conducting, and, indeed, dragging their companions down the legs of the platform, that they might also enjoy the refreshing beverage. Two days after, I let down the communicating pathway, and being suddenly called away, I forgot to remove it. On my return two or three hours after, I found the hillock greatly depopulated, and immediately guessing that my new colonists had decamped, I felt my curiosity excited to know where they had gone, nor was I long in suspense, for the regular long file of the marching fugitives led me to the very spot whence I had removed them, and there I found them twenty-five yards distant, penetrating into the broken turf, and collecting there their abandoned young! I soon found also that they did not intend to remain, but that finding their new a bode more eligible, they had come with the intention of conveying their pupae, &c. to that colony. I observed them on the march when they met their comrades; they would lay down their loads, cross their antenne, and in some instances compel the stragglers to join them, and help thein with their burdens. After I found they had been attached to their new abode, I every day at ten o'clock let down their ladder, and amused myself by watching their industrious motions as they collected and conveyed home provisions, or stubble for their architecture. As I removed it in the evening few stragglers were lost, and if any remained abroad they sheltered themselves near the cistern, and in the morning would run up the ladder and suffer themselves to be stroked by their comrades, who would feed and caress them. One day, the ladder having been insecurely placed, was, by some accident, knocked down, and the forag ing party having their retreat thus cut off, were put to shifts to devise a method of regaining their stronghold. The ladder had fallen in such a manner, that one extremity of it rested on the edge of the cistern, so that it was only about three inches distant from the legs of the formicary. I chanced to pass, and as I was about to replace it, I was arrested by a scene, which induced me to pause and watch its completion. The ants finding out what was necessary in order to reach their nest, were all astir dragging a straw up the steep, and having got it to the edge of the ladder, and projected it across the chasm, were attempting to cross as I approached. I observed one of them fall into the water as he nearly reached the other end, owing to his weight having overbalanced his slight bridge, and several were struggling in the water, who, I suppose, had, like him, too daringly attempted to cross. next adventurer fell also, and brought the bridge along with him. What followed was wonderful. A strong party inmediately set out, and returning with a larger straw, soon launched it across, and while one of them set out upon it, five or six others placed themselves upon the other end, and thus preserving its balance, allowed the traveller to pass over in safety! Nor was this all, for the lat The ter was no sooner arrived, than running up the legs of the platform, he, followed by others, stopped all he met, and striking his antennae smartly across those of the housekeepers, seemed to communicate what was going on, and in a short time a relay of labourers appeared, laden with pellets of clay, &c. with which they immediately set to work, and in a few minutes had completely secured their little bridge, so that the whole party passed and repassed with their loads in the most perfect security! I am, Sir, respectfully, yours, PHYSICUS. VOL. IX. ORIGINAL POETRY. EDINA, A POEM, IN SIX CANTOS. CANTO II. I'VE STOOD, Edina, on thy Earthen Mound, Of lovely Belles and Lawyers soporific. "Twas on a summer's eve- -(the month was May,) As miss in boarding-school at seventeen : When nought but heath and heather's to be seen; Sweet is the mountain's brow, and passing sweet Of lonely wood and melancholy dell: Sweet in a burning day, which nigh would melt one, I've oft admir'd that idiotic throng, Whose business, pleasure, sole delight, and trade is, In lassitude and ease to crawl along, And every where to wait upon the ladies; At which each ear (except their own) afraid is, Your taste I chide not, for I much detest Could I expatiate or dare to dwell Upon the follies of a modern belle. The word was formerly a Dandysette,' But now the times are chang'd, and scarce a body G g The Stockings Blue may all their envy whet, Your slim young ladies I don't much admire, I don't care tho' her nose there be a spot on ; Her bulky figure must be clad in cotton, 'Twas on a summer's eve, I've said before, The streets were crowded and the evening fine, (Their toilet finish'd) sat 'em down to dine; If, gentle reader, thou hast never been At Dilletanti meetings, held at Young's, If there destruction's works thou ne'er hast seen Who did these feats perform-those mighty lungs, Squire Daub, the president, was quite the go, His phiz was modell'd in the form called Grecian; Betwixt the tints of Guido and of Titian : He was a hero from the top to toe, Altho' in miniature-His boots were Hessian; His wig was auburn, and his spotted nose Was deeper purple than the Tuscan rose. He was th' "Apollo Belvidere," he said, (His form must have been like a bandy drummer,) Of nothing earthly was he e'er afraid Except hard drinking in the heat of summer. His well lin'd corpus delicti had staid Within his doublet many a brimming rummer; He came from Dublin, and was reckoned one He had a strange and most uncommon wit, he "Le peuple de Paris ont m'appellé L'Apollo Belvidere." Speech of Mr Daub, see Dilletanti Records. He greatly lov'd festivity, and so Had got a very fine and warm complexion, He certainly abhorred a low connexion : Of spirits, (proof,) and gave them to dissection; The butt-the beau-the wonder of the town. His choice companion was a rev'rend beau, He long had dangled in the mighty train O'ertopping far in splendour ev'ry brain His lucubrations certainly were curious, Altho' 'tis strange his friends all thought 'em spurious. He was a member of the "Peep o' day," (A rare establishment, tho' not of folly,) His hackney'd puns and jokes most melancholy; And well deserved the laurel or the holly: His voice was exquisite, almost the same As that of Catalani or of Braham. O he was great, and certainly did show As modern Socrates or Cicero, His match again, Edina, thou shalt never His pluck was great,-I'm sorry that his liver, By drinking copiously of Cogniac, Let anchorites protest they do not care For food luxurious or for generous wine, And laugh at every care-and d-n the gout. Oh our two heroes were as gods below, That reign'd triumphantly o'er every heart, Their style in dress assuredly did show No common knowledge of that mighty art; Their style was bang-up-and their heads as pretty • A club not long established. Vide Elucidations thereof by G. Bristow. (0 Frisseur, mighty thou, whose hands set off At skill so consummate? Of all below But what, alas! is merit without gold? What is ambition ?-what desire of fame? And bleak and barren sulky looking dame, Their case, alas! is mine-and therefore I A face of brass am sometimes fond of wearing; I don't mean my own merits to decry, But really now, I think 'tis past all bearing To hear a dirty tradesman raise a cry, Nay, sometimes too the rascals fall a swearing About their small accounts-they must have money, Oh Riches! bane of every human joy; The aching crannies of my empty purse : But to return, our heroes, tho' they class'd There seem'd but little reason to believe Their hopes would mend-They bundled up full fast, THE LITTLE CHILD. THE little child, what name more dear? Its tender infancy to rear, Which two belov'd associates share. • Daub and Whistlecock were not chairman and croupier of the Dilletanti. They acted as such only in absence (by indisposition or inebriety) of these office-bearers. |