122 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



dropped a big red ant in one, but it finally escaped, 

 although it was showered with sand by the lion to try to 

 knock it back. I threw two small pebbles into another 

 den and the lion thumped them out, too. She scooped the 

 pebbles and dirt onto her shovel-shaped head with her flat 

 forelegs and then pitched them out, 



FLORENCE. What if a pebble was too big? 



ALBERT. She would put it on her back and then walk 

 out backwards. 



FLORENCE. Did you give her any more ants? 



ALBERT. Yes. I dropped in a smaller one and it got 

 caught by the foot. Then I tried the little red ants and 

 they couldn't get out of the trap. But the lion was afraid 

 of them, and I don't blame her. 



KENNETH. I know that insect, but I don't know its 

 name. 



FLORENCE. So do I. When I say, "Ooly, ooly, up the 

 ground" several times, it comes up. 



KENNETH. It does just, as well to say, "Doodlebug, 

 doodlebug, come up, come up, come up." 



FLORENCE. Tell me more about this lion. 



ALBERT. Ants dread it worse than you do a real lion. 

 There are three hundred kinds. They live for a few 

 months, but if food is scarce it may be three years. The 

 depth of the trap depends on how far the particular lion 

 can throw dirt. Later it grows wings and looks like a 

 small snake feeder. 



The Blood of Ants. 



CECIL. Why is it I never see any blood in an ant? 

 ANT. Because its blood has no color. An ant has blood, 



