HOW MUCH ANIMALS KNOW. 4 i 



had utilized the time to cover the dome with defenders. An inde- 

 scribable struggle followed, but the superior numbers of the Amazons 

 overcame, and they penetrated into the nest, while the defenders poured 

 by thousands out of the same holes, with their larvae and pupae in their 

 jaws, and escaped to the nearest plants and bushes, running over the 

 heaps of their assailants. These looked on the matter as hopeless, and 

 began to retreat. But the rujibarbes, furious at their proceedings, pur- 

 sued them, and endeavored to get away from them the few pupa? they 

 had obtained, by trying to seize the Amazons' legs and to snatch away 

 the pupae. The Amazon lets its jaws slip slowly along the captive 

 pupa, as far as the head of its opponent, and pierces it, if it does not, 

 as generally happens, draw back. But it often manages to seize the 

 pupa at the instant at which the Amazon lets it go, and flees with it. 

 This is managed the more easily when a comrade holds the robber by 

 the legs, and compels it to loose its prey in order to guard itself against 

 its assailant. The strength of the rujibarbes proved at last so great 

 that the rear-guard of the retreating army was seriously pressed, and 

 was obliged to give up its booty. A number of the Amazons also were 

 overpowered and killed, but not without the rujibarbes also losing many 

 people. Nevertheless, some individuals, as though desperate, rushed 

 into the thickest hosts of the enemy, penetrated again into the nest, 

 and carried off several pupae by sheer audacity and skill. Ten minutes 

 after the commencement of the retreat, all the Amazons had left the 

 nest, and, being swifter than their opponents, they were only pursued 

 for about half-way back. Their attack had failed on account of a 

 short delay. 



It seems to be a pretty general habit among many species of ants to 

 dispose of the dead bodies of their comrades very carefully. The fol- 

 lowing especially notable account is given by an Australian observer : 



" I saw a large number of ants surrounding the dead ones, and de- 

 termined to watch their proceedings closely. I followed four or five 

 that started off from the rest toward a hillock a short distance off, in 

 which was an ants' nest. This they entered, and in about five minutes 

 they reappeared, followed by others. All fell into rank, walking reg- 

 ularly and slowly two by two, until they arrived at the spot where lay 

 the dead bodies of the soldier-ants. In a few minutes two of the ants 

 advanced and took up the dead body of one of their comrades ; then 

 two others, and so on, until all were ready to march. First walked 

 two ants bearing a body, then two without a burden ; then two others 

 with another dead ant, and so on, until the line was extended to about 

 forty pairs, and the procession now moved slowly onward, followed by 

 an irregular body of about two hundred ants. Occasionally the two 

 laden ants stopped, and, laying down the dead ant, it was taken up by 

 the two walking unburdened behind them, and thus, by occasionally 

 relieving each other, they arrived at a sandy spot near the sea. The 

 body of ants now commenced digging with their jaws a number of holes 



