THE ANTS 65 



but always face them when in their presence. Great 

 care is taken of them. They are fed and cleaned 

 by the workers who brush them with their antennae, 

 carefully and tenderly. 



These queens lay many eggs. When the tiny 

 eggs hatch, the baby ants do not come out of the 

 eggs all free as does a chicken. Before they can run 

 about they have to lie a long time done up in a little 

 case, much like the cocoon of a moth, and while they 

 are in the cocoon they need much tender care. 

 This the nm-ses give, carrying the little cases back 

 and forth into warm and sheltered places, arrang- 

 ing them all in rows according to their size, like 

 classes of children in a school. When the baby ants 

 begin to come out of the cases the nurses break 

 open the outer covering and help them out. For 

 it seems to be impossible for the baby ant to help 

 itself as a little chicken does. The nurse then un- 

 folds its little legs, washes it with her antennae and 

 feeds it carefully for a few days. 



It is then past its babyhood and has become a 

 young ant, and as such helps to care for the other 

 babies done up in their little cases. It scurries 

 around and drags the babies, cradles and all, out 

 into the sun, or away from a draft, or a prowling 

 enemy, or hurries back with it if the sky is clouded 

 over. 



The next time you go into the woods or an open 

 field, turn over a flat stone and see if you can find 

 an ants' nest under it. Then watch the little ant 

 nurses hurrying away out of sight, carrying with 

 them the white, cradled babies. 



