30 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



tions to a great distance. These were like as 

 many turnpike roads, and as busily crowded as 

 any among men, leading to or from a great fair. 

 I have sometimes with a stick overturned their 

 accumulated gatherings, when it was curious to 

 observe the effect produced. The greatest bustle 

 and confusion ensued ; and yet I have observed 

 with surprise, that next morning every thing was 

 restored to the same order as before. I noticed 

 that they had other enemies that broke in upon 

 them, and which perhaps injured them more than 

 I did ; and these were the turkeys from the village, 

 where great numbers were bred every year. As 

 soon as the young brood were able to walk abroad, 

 the mother led them every day to this great ant 

 hill, where they no doubt made terrible havoc 

 among the inhabitants and their works.* 



Bees also attracted much of my attention. I 

 could not see into the interior of their works, but 

 I made every inquiry of those who had long kept 

 them, and gathered, in this way, as good a know- 

 ledge of their history and economy as I could. 

 One of my morning jobs was to sit before the 



* The history and economy of these very interesting insects are, 

 I think, not well known. They appear to manage their affairs with 

 as much forethought and industry as mankind; but to what degree 

 their reasoning and instinctive powers extend is yet a mystery. 

 After they have spent a certain time toiling on earth, they get wings, 

 and soar aloft into the atmosphere. What change they undergo 

 before they assume this new character, or what becomes of them 

 afterwards, seems doubtful. [Bewick's boyish observations recall 

 Gay's fable of " The Turkey and the Ant," which he must, later, have 

 illustrated con amore : 



" Draw near, my birds, the mother cries, 



This hill delicious fare supplies ; 



Behold, the busy Negro race, 



See, millions blacken all the place ! 



Fear not. Like me with freedom eat ; 



An Ant is most delightful meat."] 



