ANTS WALKING WITH PARASOLS 
“Here are some ants with parasols,” called Bess. 
They all ran to Bess and Knelt down to see the little 
ants. The ants had made a clean smooth path through 
the grass. Each one was holding in its jaws a tiny piece 
of green leaf. It spread over the ant's back like a parasol. 
“I wonder where they get the leaves,” said Fred. “Some 
of them are going the other way without any. Come on, 
Buddy, let's follow their trail.'' 
The children followed the little ants to a bush. There 
they saw a queer sight. Ants were all over the bush. 
They were cutting off pieces of leaves with their sharp 
scissor-like jaws. When the piece was almost off, the ant 
crawled out on it. 
“Look at that crazy ant,'' said Marylee, pointing to 
one. “When the leaf falls, the ant will fall, too.'' 
“The ant knows what it is doing,'' said Uncle Jack. 
The ant took a last snip. The piece of leaf with the 
ant upon it floated down to the ground. Then the ant 
picked up the leaf and, holding it over its head and back, 
started off along the path. 
“Well, that ant must be too lazy to crawl down to the 
ground,'' said Buddy. 
“I think that it is smart,'' added Fred. “That is a 
quick, easy way to get down.'' 
13 
