Wings and Stings (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...halls and chambers, tunnels and galleries, each having its special use. When the last of the wedding party had disappeared there was no loitering. Slaves and masters hurried back to work, for there was much to be done. While many slaves stayed to close the gates for the night--always a part of the ant's work--others hastened away to the nurseries, where the babies were clamoring for food. "Jannycane, the babies in the fourth gallery are very hungry," called out a master to a slave who was hurrying by. "Have you your honey ready?" ' We milked some of the green cows on the pink rose-bush just a few minutes ago, master," replied the slave with a low bow, and then she scampered on to the fourth gallery. "We are so hungry," whimpered the baby ants, as the slave, joined by many others, hurried into, the big nursery. "We're almost starved; we haven't been half taken care of to-day." All over the floor they lay, hundreds and hundreds of funny, white, roly-poly ant babies with neither hands nor feet, lifting up their heads like little birds with open mouths waiting to be fed. "There, there, hush-a-by, hush-a-by," soothed the slave, Jannycane, caressing a baby with her antennae. "You poor babies have been somewhat neglected this busy day, but so many hundreds of weddings, and so many thousands of babies all in one house, make a great deal of work, antkins. But hush-a-b hush-a-by, here are your nurses with the sweetest honey, fresh from the cow." She put her mouth down to the little larva and fed him upon the honey drops she had brought. Then she washed him, and with the little brush and comb she always carries on her hind legs she made him clean and tidy; after which she patted and...