PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 47 



genous to Europe. But I think, if Solomon's words are 

 properly considered, it will be found that this interpre- 

 tation has been fathered upon them, rather than fairly 

 deduced from them. He does not affirm that the ant 

 which he proposes to his sluggard as an example, laid 

 up in her magazines stores of grain : " Go to the ant 

 thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise ; which, 

 having neither captain, overseer, nor ruler, prepares her 

 bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the har- 

 vest." These words may very well be interpreted simply 

 to mean, that the ant, with commendable prudence and 

 foresight, makes use of the proper seasons to collect a 

 supply of provision sufficient for her purposes. There 

 is not a word in them implying that she stores up grain 

 or other provision. She prepares her bread, and gathers 

 her food, — namely, such food as is suited to her, — in 

 summer and harvest, — that is, when it is most plentiful, 

 — and thus shows her wisdom and prudence by using 

 the advantages offered to her. The words thus inter- 

 preted, which they may be without any violence, will 

 apply to our European species as well as to those that 

 are not indigenous. 



I shall now bid farewell to the ancients, and proceed 

 to lay before you what the observations of modern au- 

 thors have enabled me to add to the history of ants : — 

 the principal of these are Leeuwenhoek, Swammerdam 

 (who was the first that had I'ecourse to artificial means 

 for observing their proceedings), Linne, Bonnet, and 

 especially the illustrious Swedish entomologist De Geer. 

 Gould also, who, though no systematical naturalist, was 

 a man of sense and observation, has thrown great light 

 upon the history of ants, and anticipated several of what 



