Way] AND SYMBOLS. 395 



more assisting in the operation. The march is then commenced 

 back to the nest of the eciton, the living ants and the mangled 

 remains of others being probably carried there for the purpose 

 of feeding the young brood of the marauders. In studying 

 these creatures, and their methods and depredations, the con- 

 clusion seems forced upon us that they must have been 

 invaluable as examples to warriors, and to those scientific 

 gentlemen of bloodthirsty tastes, who carefully elaborate 

 statistical treatises on methods of attack, in which, with the 

 greatest nicety, there are given calculations, showing how the 

 greatest plunder can be taken from the enemy with the least 

 injury to the invader and with the most ruinous results to the 

 enemy. And really the question is not easily disposed of if we 

 ask, Whether men show more genius than insects in their war- 

 fare ? In what do the foraging expeditions of armies differ from 

 those of these ants, except in magnitude of suffering 1 MU. 



The Wasteful Epicure. 



The food of the otter consists entirely of fishes. It furnishes 

 itself with a supply much greater than it can consume : infect- 

 ing the edges of the lake with quantities of dead fish, of which, 

 with the characteristic epicurism of the family, it eats only a 

 mouthful or two of the best parts. But in winter, when the 

 lakes are frozen over, and the rivers pour with a rapid torrent, 

 the otter is often greatly distressed for provisions, and is then 

 obliged to live upon grass, weeds, and even the bark of trees. 

 Yet even from starvation it never learns the lessons of thrift or 

 forethought. It is like those wasteful servants and heedless 

 spongers who are ever ready to be extravagant and reckless 

 when they have any opportunity, even though a future of 

 penury and distress is sure to follow their imprudent conduct. 

 They are greedy epicures, who pander to their own excesses, 

 indifferent to all economy or prudence. Carpe diem is their 

 only motto. A. 



Where there is a Will there is a Way. 



The materials which the bird uses to build its nest are 

 generally of the rudest kind. The instruments are very 



