134 THE WALKS ABROAD OF 



" On them also falls the duty of feeding the 

 males and females, and what is even more essential, 

 the Iarva3. These they fatten with truly maternal 

 solicitude." 



" Foster-mothers." 



"And of carrying the latter into the sun when it is 

 warm, or moving them from one chamber to another 

 warmer when it is cold." 



"Nursemaids." 



"And also of keeping watch over all the inlets 

 and exits, and of defending the community in case of 

 attack." 



" And soldiers. Eeally to be an ant is by no means 

 a sinecure." 



"It is an occupation that few men would be equal 

 to. But, without going far, we can see for ourselves 

 some ants in their home. I noticed yesterday at the 

 bottom of the garden a large stone, and many ants 



were assembled there. Probably by lifting it " 



And without waiting for the end of the sentence, the 

 three friends directed their way to a distant part of 

 the garden. 



The stone was raised. Leon had not been deceived. 

 There was at once apparent a confused multitude of 

 tawny bodies, and a great interlacement of feet, as 

 well as a moving and running about in all directions. 

 Then gradually order was seen to be prevailing in the 

 midst of this disorde.-. The soil forming the floor of 



