84 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



and when I nearly touched the mother, thus 

 covered by hundreds of progeny, it was most 

 amusing to see them all leap from her back, and 

 run away in all directions." 



For another instance of affection almost mater- 

 nal for the young and helpless larvae, let us take a 

 peep into an ant's nest. So soon as ever the young 

 larvae emerge from the eggs they require the unre- 

 mitting attention of the best and most careful 

 nurses in order to rear them. They must be kept 

 clean, fed, and taken for an airing as regularly as 

 the day returns. By means of their tongues, which 

 are incessantly used in licking them, their coats 

 are kept of the most snowy white. They are fed 

 three or four times a day by their nurses, who take 

 care to masticate the food for them, and thus pre- 

 pare it for their tender mouths. But the most 

 strange part is their regularly being taken out for 

 the benefit of the air and warmth. Some of the ants 

 at the top of the nest watch for the first beams of 

 the welcome sun, and, as soon as they pour upon 

 the nest, they hasten down below in a great bustle 

 to wake up the nurses, and bid them take the 

 young ones out of their chambers and bring them 

 up to the light, which these indefatigable ants 



