148 CONVERSATIONS ON 



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which he followed. They made the attack 

 as before, and each one came off with a young 

 negro ant in his mouth, and on going back 

 to their hill, from which Mr. Huber saw 

 them start, he had an opportunity of seeing 

 them return, and was very much surprised to 

 find all around the nest of the legionaries a 

 great many full-grown negro ants. At first 

 he thought that perhaps they had gone there 

 to fight the legionaries, but he soon saw that 

 instead of fighting, the negro ants went out 

 to meet the legionaries returning, and would 

 caress them, and give them food, and finally 

 take the young negro ants and carry them 

 within the nest." 



"Bat, Uncle Philip, why do the legionaries 

 always take the young ones ?" 



" Because, boys, they know, I suppose, that 

 the old ants would never be satisfied to re- 

 move from their homes ; and therefore they 

 take the young. These legionaries could work 

 if they would, I think, but they depend upon 

 the negro ants for house and home, and food 

 too ; and nothing can be more faithful and 

 affectionate than these poor slaves are. To 

 try them, Mr. Huber took thirty of the legion- 

 aries, and put them with some of the larvae, 



