On the under part of the body which is next the head are set the six legs. These legs and the feet have joints.
On the upper side of this same second part of the body are set the wings. There are four wings, two large and two small ones. The upper pair are larger than the lower ones.
The third or back part of an ant’s body is made of six rings. On the tip or pointed end of this hind part is the sting.
Now I hear you cry out, “O, my ant has no wings!” Well, let me tell you a secret. The wings of your ant have been cut off, or unhooked, as you shall hear by and by.
There are many families of ants. Each has its own name and its own ways. All ants are very wise in their actions. I shall tell you many strange things about them. Ants have always been called “the wise insects.” Would you not like to learn about their homes, their children, and their way of life?
Before you study the ants in any book, I wish you would go out into your garden or into the fields. Find an ant-hill, and sit or lie by it for an hour or so. Take some sugar or bits of cake to feed the ants. Find out for yourselves all that you can about them. Facts that you learn in this way will be worth very much to you. Be careful and do not disturb the hill or alarm the ants.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Seaside and Wayside, First Book.
[2] See First Book, page 36.