8 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



The smallest, in order to reach the well, slip under the 

 belly of the Cigale, who kindly raises herself on her claws, 

 leaving room for the importunate ones to pass. The 

 larger, stamping with impatience, quickly snatch a 

 mouthful, withdraw, take a turn on the neighbouring 

 twigs, and then return, this time more enterprising. 

 Envy grows keener ; those who but now were cautious 

 become turbulent and aggressive, and would willingly 

 drive from the spring the well-sinker who has caused it 

 to flow. 



In this crowd of brigands the most aggressive are the 

 ants. I have seen them nibbling the ends of the Cigale's 

 claws ; I have caught them tugging the ends of her 

 wings, climbing on her back, tickling her antennae. One 

 audacious individual so far forgot himself under my eyes 

 as to seize her proboscis, endeavouring to extract it from 

 the well I 



Thus hustled by these dwarfs, and at the end of her 

 patience, the giantess finally abandons the well. She 

 flies away, throwing a jet of liquid excrement over her 

 tormentors as she goes. But what cares the Ant for this 

 expression of sovereign contempt ? She is left in posses- 

 sion of the spring — only too soon exhausted when the 

 pump is removed that made it flow. There is little left, 

 but that little is sweet. So much to the good ; she can 

 wait for another drink, attained in the same manner, as 

 soon as the occasion presents itself. 



As we see, reality completely reverses the action 

 described by the fable. The shameless beggar, who 

 does not hesitate at theft, is the Ant ; the industrious 

 worker, willingly sharing her goods with the suffering, 

 is the Cigale. Yet another detail, and the reversal of the 



