292 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



It is droll to add, and it may be some of our 

 readers may feel somewhat abashed at the fact, 

 that these labourer-ants are extremely particular 

 in the observance of great order and regularity 

 in their chambers; and they therefore carefully 

 sweep up all the cast-off coverings, which are 

 collected together, and deposited in one of the 

 most distant lodges of their habitation. Could 

 man, with all the powers of reason, and the facul- 

 ties of an immortal being, have evinced a more 

 striking instance of careful, gentle, and patient 

 assistance in the hour of need than we see mani- 

 fested in the case of these insects? Alas! how 

 often does man need to come to them to learn not 

 only a lesson of wisdom and order, but of the ten- 

 derest sympathy and affection. How often lies 

 a poor fellow-creature in the bondage of hopeless 

 poverty, or in the embarrassment of inextricable 

 difficulties ! How seldom does his emergency meet 

 with that resolute and thorough-minded earnest- 

 ness of brotherly love, which will patiently give 

 him help and pity, until his troubles are sur- 

 mounted, and his steps set free ! 



It is time that we spoke somewhat upon the extri- 

 cation of insects from their pupa cases, even when 



