Natural history Sir: Although I have nothing but admiration for
Auberon Waugh and think that he is one of the few people in the world who perceive where the sickness of our society lies and the causes thereof, I am rather worried about his Natural Historical observations. In his article in the Spectator on 22 May he says that everyone knows what happens when ants meet a slug. I for one do not know. What does happen when ants meet a slug? As a member of the 'slugs' (working class), but chiefly as a member of the Ant and Insect Behaviour Group of the Amateur Entomologists' Society (I'll bet that title delights Mr Waugh) I would like to know exactly what does happen in the aforementioned circumstances.
I am well aware that Mr Waugh is trying to teach by analogy, but we all know what happens when Chinese people meet the English working class without wrapping it up in a literary device, but very few people know what happens when ants meet slugs.
And another thing: Mr Waugh stated in his article a few weeks ago that he saw a thin green line of caterpillars marching across a road in France. I think he really meant a black or dark brown line. The Pine Processionary Moth larva is a black hairy creature
not a green one or at least it should be. Moreover J. H. Fabre used it to prove the awful fallibility of instinct in a book called The Caterpillar which Mr Waugh should read. It
would help him a great deal in his biology.
J. H. Johnson 1 Berry Street, Hepthorne Lane, Chesterfield
Previous page
