Ants. 77 



the bee ; that it occurs in the form of scales, which the 

 bee picks off to use in laying up the walls of the cells. 



Ants. 



Remark how much they resemble wasps. Ordinarily 

 they have no wings. But some kinds have wings. Ask the 

 class how ants live. Do they make a comb, as the bees do ? 

 Do they build homes of mud or paper, as the wasps do ? 

 Describe ant-hills. How large is the largest ant-hill you 

 ever saw ? Are all ants black ? Can they sting ? Do ants 

 ever get into houses ? What food do they like best ? 



Bring out the extraordinary strength of ants; how they 

 can carry many times their own weight. How they seem 

 to talk with one another by touching their antennae to- 

 gether. 



Tell the children that there is an acid (formic acid) in 

 ants. The natives of Brazil make ants into salad. They 

 esteem the sour taste of ants as a great delicacy. 



Note to the Teacher. There is no better chance to 

 teach lessons on morals, neatness, industry, thrift, manage- 

 ment, economy, etc. than is afforded by using the bee 

 family as a model. Man owes more to bees than to any 

 other insect, if we except the silkworm. 



Mention may be made of the " ant-lion," an insect which 

 constructs a den into which the ants sometimes go and are 

 caught. Allusion may also be made to " ants' cows," i.e., 

 plant-lice which yield a drop of sweet fluid when ants touch 

 them. 



The famous ant-eater may also be described. 



Review lessons to test the memory and to give language 

 and number drills may follow these lessons on bees, wasps, 

 and ants. 



NOTE TO TEACHERS. With each new insect it is always 

 advisable to introduce comparisons between the insect on 

 hand and those previously studied. In this way the mem- 

 ory of past lessons is refreshed, and essential likenesses and 

 differences are more strongly emphasized. 



