The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

RELATIONS OF ORGANISMS. 193insects, bearing them to their nests for consumption,besides going off in search of honeywhich may be within reach, and not guardedwith spikes. This mode of providing impliesa very busy life, and they do not as a rulegrudge work. Besides procuring supplies,however, there is a large amount of labor inthe care bestowed upon their young. Withoutattempting to distinguish various orders,of which "more than seven hundred kindsare known," * a general description of theiryoung will suffice. In the earliest stage oftheir existence, the larvz are small conicalshaped grubs, without power of movement.In this state they are fed, carried about fromplace to place as if their seniors were seekingchange of air and temperature for them; andin process of these removals and arrangements,they are often grouped together inseparate companies, and in exact order accordingto their size. In their next stage,they become pupae, sometimes quite exposed,in other cases covered with a thin silken eovering.From this, they pass into the maturestate as perfect insects, and in process ofthis transition older ants render assistanceby way of aiding the transition, " carefully* See Appendix VIII.