Whilst many of the subterraneous insects, as the common worms, seem to
retreat so deep into the earth as not to be enlivened or awakened by the
difference of our winter days; and stop up their holes with leaves or
straws, to prevent the frosts from injuring them, or the centipes from
devouring them. The habits of peace, or the stratagems of war, of these
subterranean nations are covered from our view; but a friend of mine
prevailed on a distressed worm to enter the hole of another worm on a
bowling-green, and he presently returned much wounded about his head. And I
once saw a worm rise hastily out of the earth into the sunshine, and
observed a centipes hanging at its tail: the centipes nimbly quitted the
tail, and seizing the worm about its middle cut it in half with its
forceps, and preyed upon one part, while the other escaped. Which evinces
they have design in stopping the mouths of their habitations.

4. The wasp of this country fixes his habitation under ground, that he may
not be affected with the various changes of our climate; but in Jamaica he
hangs it on the bough of a tree, where the seasons are less severe. He
weaves a very curious paper of vegetable fibres to cover his nest, which is
constructed on the same principle with that of the bee, but with a
different material; but as his prey consists of flesh, fruits, and insects,
which are perishable commodities, he can lay up no provender for the
winter.

M. de la Loubiere, in his relation of Siam, says, "That in a part of that
kingdom, which lies open to great inundations, all the ants make their
settlements upon trees; no ants' nests are to be seen any where else."
Whereas in our country the ground is their only situation. From the
scriptual account of these insects, one might be led to suspect, that in
some climates they lay up a provision for the winter. Origen affirms the
same, (Cont. Cels. L. 4.) But it is generally believed that in this country