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 antennae, 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, 



