336 



LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



insects allied to the bees and wasps being geologically more 

 recent, and appearing in the oolitic strata. The occur- 

 rence of high social instincts in an ancient group of 

 insects renders the repetition of these instincts in a later and 

 higher group the less remarkable. The observation, how- 

 ever, does not of necessity carry with it any actual or im- 

 plied connection between the termites and their higher 

 neighbours, although, indeed, the likenesses between the 

 social life of the two orders of insects might warrant such a 

 supposition. 



The common ants (Fig. 66), the study of which in their 

 native haunts is a matter of no great difficulty, and one which 

 will fully reward the seeking mind, like the termites, possess 

 three grades of individuals. In a single ant's nest more 

 than one female may be found, the ants differing from the 

 bees in this respect ; and in the nests of some species of 

 ants there are apparently " soldiers " resembling the military 

 termites in the possession of large heads and well-developed 

 jaws. Very amazing differences are to be perceived amongst 



FIG. 66. Red, or horse-ant (Formica rufa) : , male ; , female, winged ; c, worker. 



the various species of ants. Differences in size are of 

 common occurrence, but naturalists have actually succeeded 

 in classifying ants in a general way, by differences in manner 

 and disposition. We know, for example, that the horse-ant 



