] [ THE WAYS OF THE ANT 



times take no thought for their own safety, but 

 for that of their charge solely. Whether their 

 interest is in any sense maternal or merely a prop- 

 erty interest does not appear. Another feature 

 evident in disturbing a formicary is the general 

 harmony in which the individuals of any one 

 colony work together. Here is no less than a 

 catastrophe, as if the roof of one's house were sud- 

 denly to be removed and everything upset. And 

 yet not one runs away or apparently conflicts with 

 any other. There are no cross purposes; no two 

 get in each other's way; but animated by a com- 

 mon motive, and by one only, the community 

 proceeds with despatch to the work in hand. 



Is this socialism among ants something preor- 

 dained for them as the condition of their life, or is 

 it in part an acquired tendency of the ants them- 

 selves ? That they do acquire tendencies would seem 

 clear enough. If it should be proven that this social 

 state is in fad: the result of an evolution among 

 them, it would be one of the most significant fadts 

 of natural history. 



It serves the community admirably at any rate. 

 But with them the individual does not count. Ants 

 are ahead of us in one resped: in that they have 



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