184 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 
philas cannot all live in a single nest, and we 
realize that there must come a crisis, when they 
pass out into a strange world of terrible light 
and multitudes of foes. For these pampered, 
degenerate roaches to find another Atta nest un- 
aided, would be inconceivable. In the big nest 
which I excavated I observed them on the back 
and heads not only of the large soldiers, but also 
of the queens which swarmed in one portion of 
the galleries; and indeed, of twelve queens, seven 
had roaches clinging to them. This has been 
noted also of a Brazilian species, and we sud« 
denly realize what splendid sports these humble 
insects are. They resolutely prepare for their 
gamble—l’aventure magnifique—the slenderest 
fighting chance, and we are almost inclined to 
forget the irresponsible implacability of instinct, 
and cheer the little fellows for lining up on this 
forlorn hope. When the time comes, the queens 
leave, and are off up into the unheard-of sky, 
as if an earthworm should soar with eagle’s feath- 
ers; past the gauntlet of voracious flycatchers and 
hawks, to the millionth chance of meeting an 
acceptable male of the same species. After the 
mating, comes the solitary searck for a suitable 
site, and only when the pitifully unfair gamble 
