72 
A NATURALIST ON THE PROWL , 
elements, or let it leak in silently during the night and 
greet us in the morning, the effect is the same. The leaves 
of the trees are washed, the dust on the roads is laid, and 
the spirits of man and beast participate in the baptism. 
Scarcely has the earth sent up the incense of its grati- 
tude to heaven when a thousand activities are awakened 
within it of which we shall soon see the outward signs. 
In the halls of the White Ant there is eager excitement, 
for the young queens of the future, in their long and gauzy 
wings, like bridal veils, are crowding to the door, and as 
each one starts on her long and hazardous journey in quest 
of a new home, friends press round with the blessing of 
Rebekhah — “ Be thou the mother of thousands of millions, 
and may thy seed possess the gate of those which hate 
them.” 
There is joy above ground too, for the Crow and the 
Kite, the King-crow, the Lizard, the little Owl and the Bat 
have gathered to the feast. No deduction need be made 
from the joy of the White Ants on account of the joy of 
the birds which have come together to feed on them, for 
those which escape know nothing about it, and those which 
are eaten know less ; so happiness reigns on all hands. 
Within a few days of the first rain the air is full of Dragon 
