BOOK NOTICES

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 25, 1910

"Ant Communities and How They Are Governed. A Study in Natural Civics." By Henry Christopher McCook. Illustrated from nature. Neatly bound with ornamental side stamp. Price, $2.00 net. Harper & Brothers, New York and London.

This instructive work of sixteen chapters is packed full of interesting information upon the ubiquitous ant family. Some of the astonishing things these often troublesome insects do, seem almost too wonderful to be believed; but a knowledge of them as set forth by Mr. McCook inclines one to read with fuller appreciation the words of the wise man, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." The old proverb touches the scientific side in the "her," as well as the moral side, which our author sometimes notes; for we learn that in ant communities it is the female that is strong and aggressive, the indefatigable worker, the true "war lord" of the tribe. How these communities are governed, the means of communication, the wars waged between different colonies, the courage and determination shown, and many other things treated, make the volume one of interest. There are more than a hundred illuminating drawings from nature.