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. 1903 edition. Excerpt: …behind pass over these living bridges. In the nests of bees, ants, and wasps, sentinels are stationed at the entrances, who give alarm in case of attack. In one species of ants, who make the entrances to the nests very small, the sentinels use their own heads for the gates. The advantages of this living portcullis are obvious, as no enemy could surprise the nest without awakening-the sentinel. Ants, as a general thing, are careful. about closing their doors at night. Mr. McCook gives most interesting accounts of the duties of the gate-closers in the nests of the Occident ant. The gate-closers work both from the outside and inside; the last ones outside leaving a small opening through which they push into the nests, finishing the task from within. One of the species of slave ants defends its nest by throwing up earthworks at the gates, so as to impede the progress of the invaders. GOMMUNAL WEALTII The property of insect societies consists of their dwellings, stored food, live stock, and slaves. We are met at the outset with the question whether insects have a true sense of property. If property be defined as a legal right to the ownership, use, enjoyment, and disposal of a thing, then we have certainly much to prove. The laws of insect communes may only be known through the actions of the communists. To us it seems that their sense of property is such as characterizes primitive peoples, whose unwritten laws are defined by brute force. The haste with which the ants remove their youngsters in case of attack can scarcely be classed under the sense of property rights, although in no instance does the mother of the young act as their defender. The state'cares for the children, and the state defends them. However, the situation is somewhat…