THE RED ANT. 
191 
admit that it is a genuine socialism, in which the com- 
munity is everything, the individual nothing, either to 
himself or the rest. Hence it is naught to them that a 
thousand die in the common cause. Indeed, I almost 
think that they regard such an event as a national gain, 
being troubled with the difficulties of over-population 
like ourselves. This is certain, that if you are plagued 
by ants and try to frighten them with death, you will 
only make a fool of yourself. I know, for I have often 
done it. The more you kill, the better pleased they are. 
The rest hurry down in re-doubled numbers to carry off 
the corpses, which I am sure they do not waste, but pre- 
serve for the food of the people. Surely this is rectified 
spirit of socialism. 
Next I saw the Red Ants constructing one of their 
wonderful leaf nests, and admiration began to prepon- 
derate over aversion. It was in a tree with very large 
leathery leaves, and the first thing to be done was to draw 
two of these leaves together. Beginning at the point 
where they were closest, a number of ants seized one of 
the leaves with their teeth and the other with their hind 
feet, and began to pull Further on an ant seized one leaf 
with his teeth, then another ant seized the first by its 
