378 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



then immediately relax their hold to recommence the 

 attack. They fastened upon each other's shoulders 

 or bellies, embraced and overthrew each other, then 

 raised themselves by turns, taking their revenge 

 without producing any serious mischief. They did 

 not spurt out their venom as in their combats, nor re- 

 tain their opponents with that obstinacy which we ob- 

 serve in their real quarrels. They presently aban- 

 doned those which they had first seized, and endea- 

 voured to catch others. I have seen some who were 

 so eager in these exercises, that they pursued several 

 workers in succession, and struggled with them a few 

 moments, the skirmish only terminating when the 

 least animated, having overthrown his antagonist, 

 succeeded in escaping and hiding in one of the gal- 

 leries. In one place, two ants appeared to be gambol- 

 ling about a stalk of grass, — turning alternately to 

 avoid or seize each other, which brought to my recol- 

 lection the sport and pastime of young dogs when 

 they rise on their hind-legs, attempting to bite, over- 

 throw, and seize each other, without once closing 

 their teeth. To witness these facts, it is necessary to 

 approach the ant-hills with much caution, that the ants 

 should have no idea of our presence ; if they had, they 

 would cease at the moment their plays or their occu- 

 pations, would put themselves in a posture of defence, 

 curve up their tails, and ejaculate their venom."* 

 * M. P. Huber on Ants, p. 203. 



