266 THE AMERICAN" BEAVER. 



even more ingenious. The little ants resort to a simi- 

 lar expedient to move bits of grain, but shove them 

 with their shoulders. Their ingenuity and intelli- 

 gence attracted the attention of ancient observers, 

 several of whom recognized in them the possession of 

 a mental principle.^ Cicero says of the ant, who ex- 

 cels the beaver in systematic industry : " In formicam 

 non modo sensus, sed etiam mens, ratio, memoria." 

 Personal labor of every kind and description depends 

 upon, as well as evinces, the continuous operation of 

 a mental principle. 



Many animals, among which the beaver and the 

 ant are good examples, provide a store of provisions 

 for their sustenance during winter. This act shows 

 a forecast of the future. To satisfy present hunger 

 is a simple act of intelligence; but to anticipate dis- 

 tant wants and provide for them is a much higher act 

 of knowledge. What motive could induce the mutes 

 to make such provision unless they knew, or had 



^ Ac veluti iDgentem formicse farris acervum 

 quum populant, hiemis memores, tectoque reponunt: 

 it nigrum campis agmen, prsedamque per herbas 

 convectant calle angusto; pars grandia trudunt 

 obnixse frumenta humeris; pars agmina cogmit, 

 castigantque moras ; opere omnis semita fervet. 



"Virgil, J^neid, iv. 402. 



Ac si quis comparet onera corporibus earum, fateatur, nullis 

 portione vires esse majores. Gerunt ea morsu. Majora aversse 

 postremis pedibus moliuntur, humeris obnixae. Et iis Republicas 

 ratio, memoria, cura. 



Pliny, Nat, Hist., Lib. xi. c. xxxvi. 



The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat 

 in the summer. Proverbs, xxx. 25. 



^ De Nat. Deoi'um. Lib. iii. c. ix. 



