20 ABOUl ANTS. 



into the houses, and multiply to an extend 

 which almost drives the inhabitants from their 

 nomes. By day they are a trouble, and by 

 night a pest. They bite, and suck, and scratch, 

 and sting. They crawl over the food ; they 

 hide in the bed ; they fly into the lamp, and 

 then whirl on the table ; they creep into the 

 ink; they emit horrible smells. There are 

 centipedes which sting, and scorpions which 

 sting. There are cockroaches of powerful size 

 and smell, and of insatiable appetite. As for 

 snakes and lizards, and other creeping things, 

 they are too common to be noticed. It is of 

 no use to fight. Your enemies are legions of 

 numbers innumerable. But when the Forag- 

 ing Ants come, the case is altered, for nothing 

 can stand their attack. When the pittas come 

 about, the people open every box and drawer in 

 the house, so as to allow the ants to explore 

 every crevice, and then they vacate the prem- 

 ises. 



" Presently a few scouts, which form the van- 

 guard 01 the grand army, approach, and seeui 



