ANTS. 43 



Was there ever a greater union in any 

 commonwealth? Every thing is common 

 among them ; which is not to be seen any 

 where else. Bees, of which we are told so 

 many wonderftil things, have each of them a 

 hole in their hives ; their honey is their own ; 

 every bee minds her own concerns. The same 

 may be said of all other animals. They fre- 

 quently fight, to deprive one another of their 

 portion. It is not so with Ants : they have 

 nothing of their own ; a grain of corn which 

 an Ant carries home, is deposited in a com- 

 mon stock : it is not designed for her own 

 use, but the whole community : there is no 

 distinction between a private and a common 

 interest. An Ant never works for herself, but 

 for the society. 



Whatever misfortune happens to them, 

 their care and industry find out a remedy for 

 it ; nothing discourages them. If you de- 

 stroy their nests, they will be repaired in two 

 days. Any body may easily see how difficult 

 it is to drive them out of their habitations 

 without destroying the inhabitants ; for, as 

 long as there are any left^ they will maintain 

 their ground. 



