In the Sierra 



time how great is the capacity for sensation 

 you are possessed of. A shriek, a grab for 

 the animal, and a bewildered stare follow 

 this bite of bites as one comes back to con- 

 sciousness from sudden eclipse. Fortunately, 

 if careful, one need not be bitten oftener 

 than once or twice in a lifetime. This won- 

 derful electric species is about three fourths 

 of an inch long. Bears are fond of them, and 

 tear and gnaw their home-logs to pieces, 

 and roughly devour the eggs, larvae, parent 

 ants, and the rotten or sound wood of the 

 cells, all in one spicy acid hash. The Digger 

 Indians also are fond of the larvae and even 

 of the perfect ants, so I have been told by 

 old mountaineers. They bite off and reject 

 the head, and eat the tickly acid body with 

 keen relish. Thus are the poor biters bitten, 

 like every other biter, big or little, in the 

 world's great family. 



There is also a fine, active, intelligent- 

 looking red species, intermediate in size be- 

 tween the above. They dwell in the ground, 



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