dry earth, which he cannot bear in his funnel, and gets rid of it by a quick well-measured motion of his head. If he finds still larger pieces, he endeavours to put them away with his back; and he is so earnest in this labour, that he repeats it six or seven times. His traps once laid, he is on the watch. Quite still and concealed at the bottom of the hole which he has dug, he there waits for the prey which he could not pursue. If an ant comes to the brink of the precipice, it seldom fails of falling into the bottom; because the edge slopes, and the loose sand, which gives way under his feet, draws down the insect into the power of his enemy, who drags him with his horns under the sand, sucks the blood and feasts upon it. When there remains nothing but the dry carcase, he throws it out of the hole; and if the bank is hurt at the top, he puts it in order again, and lies in ambush as before. He does not always succeed in catching his prey the moment it falls. It often escapes, and endeavours to run up again to the top; but then the Formica leo works with

his head, and throws up a shower of sand higher than the ant, which drives it down again into the hole. All the actions of this little animal contain such wonderful art, that we can scarce tire of examining him. He prepares the hole even before he has ever seen the insect destined to be his food; and yet'his actions are so regulated, that they prove the surest means of providing for his subsistence. How could such an inactive creature as this catch his prey so well as by digging in loose sand, and giving a sloping form to the hole he makes; and then covering with a shower of sand the insect which falls into it? All its actions have fixed principles, by which it is directed. His ditch ought to be dug in the sand, otherwise it would not be adapted for attracting his prey. According to the make of his body, he is obliged to work backwards, and to make use of his horns as tongs to throw up the sand to the edge of the funnel.*

*This insect afterwards changes into a fly, and by its activity in that state, makes ample amends for the recluse life it had led before.

The instinct which directs it discovers to us à first cause, whose foresight knew and ordained all that was necessary for the preservation and welfare of this animal.

The tea equipage was brought in soon after Mrs. Stanly had finished her account, and nothing occurred during the remainder of the evening worthy of record.

CHAP. XIV.

FROM this time Julia Mason's recovery though slow was progressive. She was visited every day by her friends from Bellfield, and as the inoculation of her brothers and sisters had taken effect, they were no longer debarred the pleasure of seeing her.

Their first meeting was affecting in the highest degree. She seemed restored to them from the grave, and as they clasped her in their arms, they could scarcely believe their happiness to be real; so wonderful did they consider her recovery.

One day, when they were all well enough to be down stairs, and were chatting with Augusta and her cousins, they were surprised by the sudden entrance of Zambo, who, throwing himself at Julia's feet, declared, with tears in his eyes, the pain he had felt from her illness.

But missee well now, (continued the grateful black) and poor Zambo happy! oh, so happy! and, starting from the ground, he capered about the room to the no small amusement of the party, exclaiming all the while, Oh! Zambo so happy! Zambo see his mother again! Missee not know what make Zambo happy, besides seeing missee well!

Hearing this, they concluded the poor fellow was out of his mind, till by degrees he informed them, that two of his fellow servants, tempted by the quantity of plate they had seen on Miss Freeport's birth-day, had formed a scheme of robbing their master, which he by some means had found out, and instantly acquainted Mr. Freeport with their design.

Charmed with his fidelity, in return for the bad treatment he had always met with, Mr. Freeport immediately gave him his freedom, with a promise of sending him home by the first vessel bound for the West.

It was this that had almost turned the poor fellow's brain, who said, that he had run from the castle on purpose to see his good missee once more, and to tell her how happy