PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 47 



duced as a strong; confirmation of the ancient opinion: 

 it can, liowever, only relate to the species of a warm 

 climate, the habits of which, as I have just observed, 

 are probably different from those of a cold one ; — so 

 that his words, as commonly interpreted, may be per- 

 fectly correct and consistent with nature, and yet be 

 not at all applicable to the species that are indigenous 

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

 perly considered, it will be found that this interpreta- 

 tion has been fathered upon them, rather than fairly de- 

 duced from them. He does not aflirni 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, or 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 pru- 

 dence 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 in?plying that she stores 

 up grain or other provision. She prepares her breaJ^ 

 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 

 interpreted, 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 : — 



