46 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



the nursery, are taken out and, it is said, are 

 shown through the numerous rooms and galle- 

 ries of their great building, and instructed in 

 their employments. They pass from one room 

 to another by means of sloping roads, which 

 serve the purpose of stairs. 



Experiments have frequently been made upon 

 these ant hills by striking upon them with a stick, 

 and breaking off a part of them; when a soldier 

 ant immediately appears at one of the openings, 

 walks rapidly over the hill, as if to ascertain the 

 extent of the danger, and then retires to give the 

 alarm, whereupon a large number of soldiers 

 issue from the numerous holes with which the 

 building is perforated, and stand ready to defend 

 their home. 



If, at this time, they come in contact with the 

 hands or feet of the person who has thus injured 

 them, they will bite severely, and will sometimes 

 suffer themselves to be torn limb from limb, be- 

 fore they are willing to let go their hold. If, 

 however, he retires to a little distance from the 

 hill, and remains quiet for about half an hour, 

 they suppose the enemy has left them, and re- 

 turn into the nest ; the workers then come out, 



