SOME INSECT COMMUNITIES 33 



that, with the approach of evening, all may be 

 snug and safe for the night ; while here, again, 

 come some members of the community, who 

 have been out on a hunting expedition, and now 

 return homeward laden with their spoils. The 

 whole scene is one of extraordinary animation 

 and industry, most fascinating and exciting to 

 behold. 



The Ants belong to the Order Hymenoptera, 

 and in their general structure, habits, and social 

 life strongly resemble the Bees and Wasps, 

 which also belong to this Order. While most 

 Ants are distinctly social insects, living together 

 in great communities, there are a few genera 

 which are solitary in their habits, and in which 

 only two kinds of individuals, winged males 

 and wingless females, are found. One of these 

 solitary genera appears to be at any rate 

 partially, if not entirely, parasitic, inhabiting the 

 nests of the humble-bees ; and has the power 

 of giving vent to a curious noise, half buzz, half 

 squeak, when disturbed or alarmed. 



If we carefully examine an ordinary Ants' 

 nest, we shall find that the community consists 

 of a vast number of workers, who, for the most 

 part, are sterile or imperfect females; one or more 

 fertile queen-mothers ; and a certain number of 

 winged males, who, like the drones in a bee-hive, 

 are short-lived. Although the queens are the 

 real mothers of the community, nearly all nests 

 appear to contain amongst the crowd of im- 

 perfect workers a few which are capable of 

 producing eggs ; but these eggs, should they 

 develop, almost invariably produce males. The 



