CH. VII.] ANTS. 13S 



more its kind friend, and passed into the interior of 

 the nest ; now and then the negro lost its way too, 

 and wandered about carryings the amazon. 



" I observed one," continues Huber, " after inef- 

 fectual windings, take the precaution of laying its 

 burden on the ground : the amazon remained on the 

 same spot until the negro returned to its assistance, 

 which, having well ascertained and examined one 

 of the entrances, resumed its load, and bore it into 

 the interior." 



If the entrance to any gallery happened to be ob- 

 structed, the negro, depositing its burden, went to 

 remove the obstruction, and again taking up the 

 amazon, introduced it into the nest. It often hap 

 pens that the ant-hill is not sufficiently commodious j 

 in this case the negroes alone decide upon the ex- 

 pediency of a removal, and choose a spot for tha 

 new dwelling ; they set about building, and as soon 

 as the works are sufficiently advanced, appear eager 

 to conduct the legionaries to the new city : for this 

 purpose, each negro takes up an amazon, which it 

 carries to the chosen spot, so that a long line of 

 these faithful creatures may be seen extending all 

 the way from the old to the new town ; their charges 

 are then deposited at the various entrances, when 

 other negroes come out, welcome their arrival, and 

 usher them into the interior of their new abode. 



The negro is not the only species of ant subju- 

 gated by the legionaries. The mining ants are at- 

 tacked for a similar purpose; but as these are a 

 much more resolute race than the pacific ash- 

 coloured tribe, the legionaries are obliged to vary 

 their tactics. 



" In one of these forays, the amazons," says 

 Huber, " proceeded like a torrent along a deep dike, 

 and marched in a more compact body than ordinary, 

 and in a short time reached the nest they proposed 

 to attack. As soon as the legionaries began enter- 

 ing the subterranean city, the miners rushed out iij 

 I.— M 



