(3) It is highly probable that the exotic ants subsist by similar means. The account given us of the termites, or ants, inhabiting the hottest cli mates, clearly shows that they are carnivorous. Bosman, in his description of Guinea, says that they will devour a sheep in one night, and that a fowl is amusement to them only for an hour. In these situations living animals often become their victims. Man himself, as related by Pre vost in his Histoire General des Voyages, is even subject to the attacks of ants (Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th Ed. Art. `Ant').
(4) With regard to Solomon's words respecting the ant, Kirby and Spence are of opinion 'that if they are properly considered it will he found that the interpretation which seems to favor the an cient error respecting ants has been fathered upon them rather than fairly deduced from them. He does not affirm that the ant. which he proposes to the sluggard as an example, laid up in her magazine stores of grain against winter, but that, with considerable prudence and foresight, she makes use of proper seasons to collect a sup ply of provisions sufficient for her purposes. There is not a word in them implying that she stores up grain or other provisions, nor has the modern study of the insect ever discovered any such habit. She prepares her bread and gathers her food (namely, such food as is suited to her) in summer and harvest (that is, when it is most plentiful), and thus shows her wisdom and prudence by using the advantages offered to her.' A brief examination of the passages (Prov. vi :6 : xxx :25) with reference to their context will serve to confirm these observations. In the pre ceding verses. Solomon has cautioned his readers against incurring dangerous responsibilities on behalf of another. Should this have inadvert ently been done, he advises the surety to give no sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eyelids, till he has delivered himself from his rash engage ment. He then adds, `Go to the ant, thou slug
gard, consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.' The sense is thus ably given by Dr. Hammond: 'As in the matter just men tioned the least delay is pernicious, so in all things else sluggishness, or negligence of those things which concern us most nearly, should ever be avoided; and if we need any instructor on this head, we may go to one of the least and meanest of creatures.' The moral, then, intended in Solomon's allusion to the ant, is simply to avail one's self of the favorable time without delay. The description which follows, of the sluggard sleeping, evidently during the day, the proper season of activity, and of the conse quences of his vice, agrees with this interpreta tion. The other passage (xxx :25), probably by a different writer, also considers the ant simply as the symbol of diligence.
(5) On the other hand the well-known entomolo gist, the Rev. F. \V. Hope, in a paper "On Some Doubts Respecting the Economy of Ants" (Hass. Entom. Soc., ii :2II) is of the opinion that there are species of exotic ants which store up food for winter consumption.
And so it is asserted that there are certain facts in regard to the ants of the Holy Land which settle this controversy in favor of the rigid accu racy of the author of the Proverbs. They are: (1) The ants of these countries lay up vast stores of grain in their nests. (2) To facilitate this act of providence they place their nests as near as possible to the places where grain is thrashed or stored. (3) They certainly eat this grain during the winter season. (4) They encourage certain insects which secrete sweet juices to consort with them, and collect and store their eggs with their own, that they may have them at hand for future use when they shall have hatched. (Barnes Bib. Cyc.).