THE PERFECT SOCIALISM 73 



The marching hordes behind pass over these living 

 bridges. 



In the nests of bees, ants, and wasps, sentinels are 

 stationed at the entrances, w^ho give alarm in case of 

 attack. In one species of ants, who make the entrances 

 to the nests very small, the sentinels use their own 

 heads for the gates. The advantages of this living 

 portcullis are obvious, as no enemy could surprise the 

 nest without awakening the sentinel. Ants, as a 

 general thing, are careful about closing their doors at 

 night. Mr. McCook gives most interesting accounts of 

 the duties of the gate-closers in the nests of the Occident 

 ant. The gate-closers work both from the outside and 

 inside ; the last ones outside leaving a small opening 

 through which they push into the nests, finishing 

 the task from within. One of the species of slave 

 ants defends its nest by throwing up earthworks 

 at the gates, so as to impede the progress of the 

 invaders. 



Communal Wealth 



The property of insect societies consists of their 

 dwellings, stored food, live stock, and slaves. We are 

 met at the outset with the question whether insects 

 have a true sense of property. If property be defined 

 as a legal right to the ownership, use, enjoyment, and 



