ANT COMMUNITIES 



Dorymyrmex bounds, paused, and stood quite still, as 

 though reconnoitring the hostile quarters. The pause 

 was fatal, for they were attacked at once by the vigilant 

 sentinels, who sallied forth to a goodly distance upon 

 the avenue. Others seemed to recognize that discretion 

 is the better part of valor, and made a wide detour of the 

 skirmish line of the little vixenish raiders. It was plain 

 that the Occidents thoroughly knew the qualities and 

 temper of their involuntary guests, and regarded them 

 with wholesome distrust, not to say fear. 



The result of the guerilla warfare above described was 

 rather remarkable. The next morning, upon visiting 

 the ground, I found that the Occidents had abandoned 

 their old avenue, had cut down and around the Dory- 

 myrmex colony, and made an opening on the edge of a 

 slight ridge several inches beyond the disputed terri- 

 tory, but still in the line of the avenue they had been 

 using. A little of the pains required for this last would 

 have cut out and carried away the whole Dorymyrmex 



/ V V 



nest space, whose contingent of diminutive warriors 

 could have been overwhelmed in a moment bv the 



/ 



legions of their huge hosts. Subsequently the Occidents 

 made an amusing retaliation upon their wee tormentors, 

 for I found their nest literally buried under the dirt 



_ 



excavated from the new gangway, and dumped upon 

 their gate and moundlet. It was a fitting and laugh- 

 able punishment for the little churls, who, however, 

 would probably cut their way out, unless the process 

 were continued. 



These incidents will suffice to show that courage is a 

 general characteristic of ants. But one finds herein the 

 same temperamental differences that mark the tribes 

 of men. As there are nations justly described as war- 



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