LOVES OF THE INSECTS. 311 



the mysteries of nature, tliey can look on that 

 picture (the ^ Tour round my Garden ') and on 

 this, and then form their own conclusions. 



Anybody wisliing to amuse an idle quarter of 

 an hour may make himself some entomologic fun 

 hy going to one of the large wood-ants' nests, 

 and, with a stick, putting aside the top of it, 

 and stirring up the crater of the living little 

 Vesuvius. Then, the crater of the nest thus 

 hollowed out and exposed, without touching tlie 

 nest, he can lean over it, and put his arm and 

 bare hand, without getting near enough to the 

 sides for the ants to touch him, and then let him 

 feel their assaults and watch their actions. Every 

 ant will man, as it were, the sides of his infracted 

 fort, and every ant will he on his hinder legs 

 or haunches, and the aggressive hand of man 

 will feel just as if it Avas being slightly iced, 

 or put into an ice - pail without contact with 

 the frozen contents. The position assumed by the 

 outraged ants is thus accounted for, — they sit up 

 to spit at the intruder. 



After the hand is withdrawn, it will have a 

 decided smell upon it, as of having been in contact 

 with vinegar. It is very curious to watch these 



