2S4 HYMENOPTERA. 
mamma, ants are like bees, in having 
males, females, and workers ? 
Mother, Yes ; and they also resemble 
bees in living together in large societies, 
where all the works are carried on in 
common for the public good, and con- 
ducted with the greatest order and dis- 
patch. 
Lucy, I suppose there are ants' nests 
near the wood lane ? 
Mother. They are fond of making 
their nests in banks and uneven ground, 
where there are rough hillocks ; and 
sometimes near the roots of trees. They 
hollow out a sort of vaulted cavern, to 
which they make several subterraneous 
passages ; and for all this work, so y)ro- 
digious when compared with the bulk 
and strength of the animal, they have 
no other tools than their jaws ; but what 
they want in strength and tools they make 
up in numbers and diligence, multitudes 
of labourers working at once in carry- 
ing out the earth. 
