ANT COMMUNITIES 



cial creatures is a typical ant society. Therein every 

 ant is, as nearly as is conceivable, a law unto itself. 

 Here is neither congress nor legislator. Every individual 

 seems to follow the desires and devices of her own heart. 

 But here also is such perfect obedience to "law" as only 

 insect commonwealths show among all known organized 

 societies. Where is the source and where the potent 

 centre and motor of this law? 



The mysteiy deepens as one's inquiry widens. Here 

 is effective government; but where are the governors? 

 "Those that think' -sang Goldsmith "must govern 

 those that toil." Here are toilers enow; but of that 

 higher, or supposed higher, class who think out the 

 problems of State and the means for their solution 

 the most careful searching finds no trace. The varied 

 and complicated facts of governments, as men know 

 them, here meet the observing naturalist and the 

 speculating philosopher. But neither naturalist nor 

 philosopher has yet put his probe upon the secret 

 source of government among ants and other social 

 insects. 



Can there be government without visible governors? 

 Here in our ant city one sees home-making, home-guard- 

 ing, home-nurturing; the building of roads, store-rooms, 

 nurseries, vast structures that relatively rival those of 

 the great centres of human population. Here one sees 

 the gathering of supplies; the storing of crops; the 

 waging of war; the utilizing of captives from alien tribes 

 for co-operative service; the keeping of domestic herds; 

 the policing and sanitation of habitations and streets; 

 the nurture and care of the young. All the practical 

 results of organized society one sees in the emmet State. 



Is not this government? 



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