RELATION BETWEEN ANTS. 169 
mony and public good. Even were we — 
not accustomed to regard the actions of 
insects as mechanical, we could not pos- 
sibly explain the order so conspicuous 
among bees and ants, without supposing 
them endowed with an attachment to 
their fraternity, which inspires them with 
that great zeal for the well-being of the 
colony, with that attention and that de- 
votedness, of which they offer striking 
examples every instant of their life. 
With us, intimacy results from some 
decided preference; with them, this af- 
fection has nothing exclusive, offering 
rather an idea of the patriotism which 
accords with republican states. Their 
friendship is never destroyed by the 
shock of contending passions; there is 
not to be found amongst them either 
hatred, rivalry, or dissension. What in- 
dividual is not acquainted with the de- 
votedness of bees for their republic! 
The females, even of the larger animals, 
do not defend their little ones with more 
spirit and obstinacy. Ants yield in no 
I 
