7 RANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
196 
THE ANT FAMILY. 
( Formicidce. ) 
Ants are so common in nearly every part of the globe that 
they are very well-known insects ; nevertheless, they have all sorts 
of characters given them. They are considered destructive and 
encroaching, as well as disagreeable things, and they have, as a 
rule, a very doubtful reputation amongst the public in nearly 
every country ; but naturalists and those who inquire a little more 
carefully into the mysteries of the insect world, are always ready 
to admire their wonderful instincts. In fact, the ants possess 
those marvellous gifts in as great a degree as any other beings. 
The ancients were struck with their admirable underground 
works, and from the earliest times imagination has assisted those 
who look superficially into the natural history of these little 
creatures, at the expense, however, of truth. The curious idea — 
which appears to have commenced in very remote times, and 
to have been carried down by tradition, and which was assisted 
by the results of careless observations — concerning the habits of 
the ants in collecting and storing up provisions, as it were, under 
the influence of a wise foresight, is evidently incorrect. But 
although this foresight is not developed in the ants, they still 
have a few resemblances by which they can be compared with 
men, so far as social habits are concerned. The same is true for 
wasps and bees, and many other insects, but when the matter is 
carefully looked into, the analogy between the insect and human 
society -is much less than might have been supposed. It is evident 
that all the individuals of a tribe of ants act in concert to carry 
on a common work, which is invariably effected by means of all, 
or at least of the greatest possible number of the insects. This 
is certainly wonderful, but there is nothing like what is observed 
and which appears to be inevitable in human society, namely, a 
hierarchy composed of individuals which command, and of others 
who obey. To all appearance, the most perfect equality exists 
between all the individuals of insect societies ; no one commands 
and does not work, for they all work, and each insect appears to 
understand what is required of it, and affords assistance to others 
