TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 135 



the ants' nest was pierced by many little orifices ; one 

 by one the ants entered into these and disappeared 

 from sight. The larvse and pupae (frequently called 

 ant-eggs) being unable to walk, were carried by their 

 guardians, three or four of whom sometimes joined 

 in a common effort in order to carry these precious 

 burdens out of the way of danger as speedily as 

 possible. 



" These little creatures are really wanting in 

 nothing/' murmured the doctor. "Intelligence, 

 devotion to say nothing of the fact that their per- 

 severance is celebrated in one of the best anecdotes I 

 know as coming from the East, though whether it 

 be Persian, Tartar, or Mongol I do not now recollect ; 

 but this, however, is of little importance." 



The word anecdote nearly always rouses the atten- 

 tion and excites the expectations of an audience. On 

 this occasion Uncle Bob did not wait to be pressed, 

 but continued 



"It was at the time when Tamerlane was about to 

 commence his career as a conqueror. One day, his 

 forces having been overwhelmed, almost annihilated 

 by a disastrous defeat, he had been obliged to beat a 

 retreat, which, as you may well suppose, had put him 

 into a very bad humour. 



" The next day, secluded in his tent, he was asking 

 himself what was now to be done, when he noticed 

 an ant climbing with much effort the canvas of the 



