444 INSECTS ABROAD. 



while others are scarcely as large as the common Eed Ant of 

 our garden. There are two distinct kinds of the large-headed 

 neuters, one with smooth and the other with hairy heads. These 

 latter insects seldom make their appearance in the open air, 

 and the only way to evoke them is to break a hole in the dome 

 and push a stick down the hole as far as possible. In a few 

 minutes a few of these creatures will come slowly up, looking, 

 as Mr. Bates says, like Cyciops, with their big head and the 

 eye in the middle of the forehead. Why they should make 

 their appearance is not very evident, for they seem to have 

 no connection with or control over the workers. Neither do 

 they fight, for Mr. Bates found no difficulty in securing several 

 of them with his fingers. 



The general colour of the Saiiba is reddish brown, the colour 

 being brightest on the head and dullest on the abdomen, where 

 it is obscured by a coat of dull brown hairs. The wings of the 

 perfect male and female are very much like those of the hornet, 

 being firm, transparent, shining, and of a reddish brown, fading 

 to yellow towards the tips. There are very few nervures. 



We are all familiar with the passage — 



" Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider her ways, and be wise : which 

 having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and 

 gathereth her food in the harvest."- — Prov. vi. 6 — 8. 



Many a time have we heard it said that Solomon was entirely 

 wrong, and that the Ants, being essentially carnivorous, lay up 

 no store for the winter, but become torpid until the same weather 

 comes round again. Now this is all very true as regards the 

 Ants of our own climate, but it is not true of Ants belonging 

 to other countries. At the date of this book, at least nineteen 

 species of Harvesting Ants have been discovered, some of which 

 inhabit Palestine, I believe that no English Ant has been 

 known to lay up seeds. The Black Ant was once seen to carry 

 some fresh violet seeds into the nest, but they were all ejected 

 on the following day. 



The history of the present species lias been admirably given 

 by Mr. J. T. Moggridge, and for nearly all of the information 

 here given I am indebted to his most interesting work on Ants 

 and Trapdoor Spiders. 



