THE SANGUINE ANTS. 343 
mies, it effects no change in their instinct 
and character, since the Amazons and 
their slaves, brought up with the same 
care, and under the management of the 
same nurses, live in the mixed ant-hill 
under very different laws. 
My readers are, perhaps, inclined to 
believe, that I have been led aside by a 
love of the marvellous, and that, to give 
more interest to my narrative, I have 
added something, by way of embellish- 
ment, tothe faets I have observed. But 
the more I am attracted by the wonder- 
ful display of nature, the less am I in- 
clined to alter it by any melange of the 
imagination. 
I have endeavoured to cast aside every 
illusion, prejudice, or ambition of saying 
any thing new, prepossessions in favour of 
cursory observations, love of systems, 
&c. holding to that disposition, which I 
may term neutral ; ready to admit every 
fact of whatever nature it be, pro- 
vided it be confirmed by close observ- 
ation, 
Q 4 
