[Illustration: AN OCEAN GARDEN.] NATURE READERS SEASIDE AND WAYSIDE No. 2 BY JULIA McNAIR WRIGHT So he wandered away and away With Nature, that dear old nurse, Who sang to him, night and day, The songs of the universe. --LONGFELLOW, _Birthday Poem for Agassiz_. D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO SEASIDE AND WAYSIDE NATURE READERS. BY JULIA McNAIR WRIGHT. Seaside and Wayside Nature Reader, No. 1. Describes Crabs, Wasps, Spiders, Bees, and some Univalve Mollusks. Seaside and Wayside Nature Reader, No. 2. Describes Ants, Flies, Earthworms, Beetles, Barnacles, and Star-fish. Seaside and Wayside Nature Reader, No. 3. Has chapters on Plant-life, Grasshoppers, Butterflies, and Birds. Seaside and Wayside Nature Reader, No. 4. Has chapters on Geology, Astronomy, World-life, etc. D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS. COPYRIGHT, 1888 AND 1901, BY JULIA McNAIR WRIGHT. PREFACE. TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS:-- In this book we shall wander together a little farther, by the seaside and by the wayside. Sometimes we shall walk on the breezy hills; sometimes in the low, marshy places, where ferns and rushes grow. Sometimes we shall stroll along the wayside path, where the wild-flowers and grasses are woven into a wreath. Sometimes we shall go to the hard, white sand, where the ocean waves roll to our feet, and bring us shells and curious treasure from the sea. Again, we shall go down to the still ponds, where lilies float on the water and dragon-flies swim in the air. Wherever we go, let us keep our eyes open and our minds awake to the lessons of Nature. Then we shall be able to learn what beauty and wisdom lie hid, even in such humble things as flies and worms. We shall find much to delight us in beetles; and be as happy as kings while we search out the secrets of airy hunters and marvellous little fishes. J. M. N. W. CONTENTS. LESSON PAGE I. A LOOK AT AN ANT 1 II. THE LIFE OF AN ANT 4 III. THE ANT’S HOME 9 IV. THE ANTS AT HOME 13 V. THE ANTS ON A TRIP 16 VI. THE FARMER ANTS 20 VII. ANTS AND THEIR TRADES 24 VIII. THE SLAVE ANTS 28 IX. WONDER ANTS 31 X. THE WAYS OF ANTS 34 XI. MR. WORM AND HIS FAMILY 39 XII. MR. EARTH-WORM AT HOME 42 XIII. MR. WORM AT WORK 46 XIV. MR. WORM’S COTTAGE BY THE SEA 49 XV. MR. WORM AT HOME 52 XVI. A LOOK AT A HOUSE-FLY 56 XVII. HOW TO LOOK AT A FLY 59 XVIII. MRS. FLY AND HER FOES 63