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2,000 strong, headed by a continually-changing vanguard of eight or ten picked soldiers.

No doubt spies have been previously sent to find out the whereabouts of the nest of their intended captives, for on they go, never turning to the right or

[graphic][graphic][subsumed]

to the left, across roads, through fields, never moving out of line, but always marching forward like a welldrilled army, till they reach the abode of their doomed fellow-creatures. There appears to be no

Male.

Female.

Worker.
ASHY ANTS.

doubt as to who will be the victors, for although the ash-coloured ants have well guarded their home, and, after their enemies have forced an entrance, fight bravely for life and liberty, they are invariably. conquered. The victorious Amazons next tear up with their strong mandibles the earth which forms the

nest of the vanquished, and hunt through the dwelling for spoil. This they bring out in the shape of grubs and chrysalises, each ant bearing one aloft in its mouth.

After again forming into line they, in the same systematic manner as they came, return to their own nest, and carefully deposit their burdens on the shelves where the future representatives of their own race lie in rows. All are fed and tended with equal care by the nurses; but when they come out perfect insects, what do we find? Why, that the ash-coloured ants take their place as the slaves of the community without making any resistance, or showing any signs of having been born to a higher place in the social scale of ant life.

But as with the nations among mortals, so with the ants. No sooner are these pirating expeditions over, than the valiant and invincible conquerors settle down to a life of luxury. Their slaves wait on them hand and foot, not only ordering their domestic economy, by nursing, feeding, and bringing up the young; but even becoming the managers of the State, and general overseers of the community, at the same time seeming always to recognise their own inferiority.

The Amazons, except when going out to war, never leave the nest on foot. Is it their wish to take an airing, or to view the surrounding country? Then Topsy or Dinah must be in readiness to bear her mistress aloft, and carry her about wherever she may wish to go.

Does the aristocratic ant require nourishment? Then one of the lower orders must procure some, and, moreover, when it is found, must show the dainty lady how to dispose of it.

Is the august personage soiled? Then her bodyservant immediately proceeds with her antennæ to clean her ladyship.

So dependent are these lofty beings on the race whom they regard as slaves, that when separated from them they will sooner die of starvation than take the trouble to eat food, although it may be lying around in every form likely to tickle their fastidious palates. In fact, some of these slavemaking species are so excessively lazy and stupid, that it is a mystery how they manage to capture such able servants.

When we see the helpless, useless lives the Amazons lead, and the active, useful lives led by their intelligent slaves, we may well ask the questions, Which is mistress? Which is slave? For although the Amazons are mistresses over the slaves, the slaves are mistresses of themselves, and therefore far more independent than their superiors.

It is within the bounds of possibility that, just as the great nations of the earth have gradually risen to a high state of civilisation, have given themselves up to enjoy the many pleasures and luxuries which follow in the train of civilisation, and have been finally degraded by not exercising their many intellectual

gifts and physical powers; so these voluptuous ants will gradually sink into insignificance, and find themselves unable to compete with those who are more self-dependent, and have really reached a more perfect state of culture.

It has been shown that in the ant world the three great phases of human civilisation are exemplified.

First, there are the "Hunting Ants," who represent the savage races of men, and live principally on the produce of the chase. Like Homer's heroes, they hunt separately, and their battles are single combats.

Then come the ants who show great skill in architecture, and keep domestic animals, from some of which they get honey in a similar manner to that by which we obtain milk from the cow. Their numbers are much greater than those of their hunting brethren, their communities are more numerous, and they act together with intelligent unity. Their mode of living seems to tally with the pastoral stage of human progress.

And, lastly, we find the ants who lay up their stores, and, to all intents and purposes, have a seedtime and harvest, offer a curious analogy to the agricultural stage of the development of mankind.

"Yet it may be more lofty courage dwells

In one weak heart which braves an adverse fate,

Than hers whose ardent soul, indignant swells,

Warmed by the fight, or cheered through high debate,"

WINGLESS AND WINGED APHIS.

CHAPTER IV.

FRIENDS AND FOES.

THERE is a story about an old farmer's wife who, while going her usual round in the farm-yard one morning, saw, to her great aston

ishment, what appeared to be a

golden egg. She rubbed her eyes, and looked again. Sure enough it was still there. So she collected her scattered wits, and picked up the treasure, wondering all the time where it could have come from. On looking around she beheld a splendid goose-such an one as she had never before seen. She went nearer to it, when lo! the bird while making off

"Let fall a golden egg

With cackle and with clatter."

On several succeeding mornings the same thing occurred, till at last the old woman began to turn things over in her mind. Thinks she to herself :— "This valuable bird might one day disappear, or

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