DISCARDED WINGS. 185 



mistook for flies, and inquired accordingly what could be their 

 business in such incongruous society. "They are no flies/' 

 said we,, "but ants themselves female ants, though with 

 somewhat of the air, certainly, of being in masquerade or 

 fancy costume. But say what we will of their attire, we must 

 needs confess that they are in their proper places ; for they are 

 the matrons of the community, and, as we see, they are 

 at home" 



Our young companion made no reply ; but stooping down, 

 seemed wholly engrossed by examination of the ant-hill. 

 " Look/' exclaimed she, presently ; " there is one of these 

 portly dames without any wings at all. I suppose some of her 

 neighbours have taken up a spite against her, and combined 

 to strip her of her glittering appendages." 



" By no means/' we answered, " she has laid them aside 

 by her own voluntary act. Only see, my dear Emily, here is 

 one of her sisters even now employed in the business of 

 disrobing." 



We both stooped, and watched narrowly the curious operation 

 to which we had directed our young friend's attention. One of 

 the larger insects in question was actively employed in agitating 

 her wings, bringing them before her head, crossing them in 

 every direction, throwing them from side to side, and producing 

 so many singular contortions as to cause them all four to fall 

 off at the same moment, leaving her reduced to the same con- 

 dition as her wingless sister. Fatigued, apparently, by her 



