IO6 LIVING CREATURES. 



with which she hastens homeward. They take good 

 care of these slaves, who in turn take upon themselves 

 the whole work of the nest. They feed the young, 

 repair the dwelling, and lay up the provisions. They 

 even feed their masters putting the food into their 

 very mouths. Though these masters are such fighters, 

 they are very lazy, and will starve rather than wait on 

 themselves. 



Jenny. What silly creatures ! I do not see any of 

 those dark-colored ants in your nest. 



Ant. No ; we do our own work, and never interfere 

 with our neighbors so long as they do not trouble us. 

 We nurse our little ones, lay up our own provisions, 

 and all bear an equal share in the repairs and other 

 necessary labors about the nest. 



Jenny. I should like very much to hear about your 

 little ones. I do not know that I have ever seen them. 



Ant. You have seen them, though probably you 

 did not know what they were. In their immature, or 

 pupa state, they look very much like white seeds, or 

 very small fine grains of boiled rice. 



Jenny. I have seen your friends carry such things 

 in and out of the nest, but I supposed they were lay- 

 ing something up for food. But why do they bite off 

 the ends? I have seen them do that sometimes. 



Ant. That is to assist the young ant in making its 

 way out. You may have noticed that we take great 

 care of these eggs sometimes laying them in the sun, 

 sometimes carrying them into the interior of the nest. 



Jenny. Yes ; I have often wondered what it was for. 



Ant. In order that they may have just as much 

 heat as is good for them, and no more. A great part 



