HOFSTADTER has this information from an acquaintance of his, namely an ant-eater, who tells him about his communication with Aunt Ant, the ant colony. The ant-eater and Aunt Ant can get along very well with each other. Aunt Ant doesn't fear the ant-eater, in contast to the individual ants, who are scared to death of him. After a good conversation Aunt Ant always offers the ant-eater some nice fat ants.
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