64 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE CHAP. 
not leave the nest. At last one day she 
ventured outside, and after a while met a — 
stranger Ant of the same species, but be- 
longing to another nest, by whom she was 
at once attacked. I tried to separate them, 
but whether by her enemy, or perhaps by my 
well-meant but clumsy kindness, she was 
evidently much hurt and lay helplessly on her 
side. Several other Ants passed her without 
taking any notice, but soon one came up, 
examined her carefully with her antenne, and 
carried her off tenderly to the nest. No one, 
I think, who saw it could have denied to that 
Ant one attribute of humanity, the quality of 
kindness. 
The existence of such communities as those 
of Ants or Bees implies, no doubt, some power 
of communication, but the amount is still a 
matter of doubt. It is well known that if one 
Bee or Ant discovers a store of food, others 
soon find their way to it. This, however, 
does not prove much. It makes all the 
difference whether they are brought or sent. 
If they merely accompany on her return a 
companion who has brought a store of food, 
—* 
Se — 
ee =e 
