NOTES ON INDIAN ANTS. 47 



the rear : rufo-nigwi was evidently much alarmed, crowding round 

 the entrance to their nest with a restless unmeaning action and 

 generally scared look. 



I could never make out how smaragdina arrived at the upper part 

 of my tree ; either they must have ascended on the south-east side 

 (which was not so much frequented), when rufo-nigra was not on 

 the alert, or they must have gone up the telegraph-post and travel- 

 led along the wires, which just at one point touched a few of the 

 leaves of my tree. The trees on the right and left of my tree did 

 not touch. 



On Sunday, May 13th, I again visited my tree, expecting to find 

 smaragdina in possession, but the reverse was the case ; there was not 

 a single yellow ant on it, rufo- nigra being in sole charge, and the 

 work of the colony going on as usual. What had happened in the 

 meantime I had no means of telling, but I think smaragdina must 

 have left the tree of their own accord, and were not driven off.* 



On Sunday, May 20th, I again went to my tree, to find another 

 invasion of smaragdina, and the wedge-shaped column of yellow ants 

 advancing as on May 6th ; this time rufo-nigra hardly offered any 

 opposition, and there was a very apparent diminution in their numbers. 



On Thursday, May 24th, smaragdina had again deserted the tree, 

 and rufo-nigra was to the fore. 



On Sunday, June 10th, another invasion : smaragdina all over the 

 tree, some workers being close to the entrance to rufo-nigra 's nest ; 

 very few of rufo-nigra workers about, and these all small-sized speci- 

 mens ; the red and black ants almost suppressed. 



On Sunday, June 24th, smaragdina occupied the upper portion of 

 the tree, rufo-nigra the lower, and had regained their nest. 



On Sunday, July 22nd, I found smaragdina strongly in the ascen- 

 dant : very few workers of rufo-nigra about. 



After this date I left off taking written notes, but smaragdina 



* It is possible that as the spear-head formation of yellow ants advanced to a level 

 with rufo-nigra' s nest, the red and black ants may have retired ; it would be im- 

 possible for smaragdina to follow them up, as their size would not permit them to 

 enter the burrows. The yellow column may have then passed on, and rufo-nigra, 

 issuing in a body, taken them in flank, and by this skilful manoeuvre snatched a 

 victory from defeat ; but of course this is mere conjecture, though more unlikely 

 things do happen in ant-life. 



