A DEATH-STRUGGLE. 447 



until one or the other is killed. They are not at all particular 

 as to their food, eating grasshoppers, flies, bees, wasps, and even 

 lizards when they can assemble in sufficient numbers. Mr. 

 Moggridge gives an interesting account of a struggle between 

 the Harvesting Ants and a caterpillar : — 



" I was once a witness of a singular contest between a soft- 

 bodied, smooth, greyish caterpillar, about an inch in length, 

 and two medium-sized harhara Ants. The Ants were mere 

 pigmies in comparison M'ith their prey, for as such I believe 

 they regarded the caterpillar, but they gripped its body with 

 set mandibles, showing the most savage determination not to 

 lose their hold. 



" When I first discovered the group, the war was being waged 

 in a tuft of grass over one of the entrances to the Ants' nest, 

 and the caterpillar was striding along the leaves, and thrusting 

 itself between the culms in the hope to shake off or brush away 

 its little perseciitors. From time to time the caterpillar would 

 turn viciously round and endeavour to pluck away its assailants ; 

 but though it actually succeeded in stripping, by means of fore- 

 legs and mouth, five of the six legs of one of the Ants, which 

 was within its reach, they never loosened their hold. 



" At length, a chance movement of mine shook the grass-leaf 

 on which they were, and Ants and caterpillars rolled together 

 down a steep and rocky slope to about four feet distant. They 

 tumbled over and over several times, but still the Ants gripped 

 their prey as firmly as ever. 



" The last endeavour of the giant victim was to rub off tlie 

 Ants by burrowing into the soil ; but on uncovering its retreat I 

 saw that their position was still the same. After watching this 

 struggle for twenty minutes, time failed me, and I returned home, 

 carrying with me, however, the combatants. When on my 

 return I opened the box in which they were imprisoned, these 

 bull-dog Ants were clinging with mandibles locked as firmly as 

 ever ; and now as I write, in death they are clinging still, 

 drowned in a sea of spirits of wine." 



From the observations of Mr. C. Home, it appears that an 

 Indian species of Ant, Podomyrma rufonigra, has a similar habit 

 of storing up grain, carefully removing the husks. The grain is 

 called by the natives yarroo?i, or sweepings; and it is stored in 

 such quantities that in time of famine the granaries of the Ants 



