152 THE MOST GIFTED DfSECT RACE. 



workers of the bees and wasps possess wings, whereas in 

 the ants these organs are restricted to the males and 

 females, and are only borne by them for a short time. 

 Then, the front wings of the wasps can be folded longi- 

 tudinally when the insect is at rest, while those of 

 the ants remain as permanently spread as those of a 

 butterfly. 



In order to gain a general idea of Ant Life, we cannot 

 do better than examine a nest of our most common 



British species, the Garden Ant (Formica nigra). This 

 is sometimes, but erroneously, called the Black Ant: that 

 name properly belonging to another species (Formica 

 fuligirwsa), sometimes called the Jet Ant. This latter 

 insect is a dull, sluggish creature, not appearing in the 

 open air more than it can help, and entirely distinct from 

 the active, fussy Garden Ant. 



Any one who has kept a garden must be familiar with 



