222 : NOTES ON 



situated between two trees, one of which appeared to be the 

 station of an army of black, the other of an army of red ants. 

 After each army had been flying for awhile round the tree of 

 which it had taken possession, both, as by some mutual signal, 

 rushed forward, and, meeting in mid-air, commenced a most 

 desperate battle. 



It clamor totis per propugnacula muris ; 

 Inteiidunt acres arcus, amentaque torquent. 

 Sternitur omne solum telis ; turn scuta cavseque, 

 Dant sonitum flictu galeae, pugna aspera surgit. 



ViRG. jEn. ix. 664. 



As they fought, numbers fell to the ground, and always in 

 pairs, one black and the other red; and, when thus engaged, 

 as it were hand to hand, each pair continued the horrid combat 

 until one or both were completely disabled and unable again 

 to rise. At last a truce was sounded, and each party retired 

 to its respective post ; but, alas! this was but for a time — it 

 was only to recover their strength and recruit their exhausted 

 energies. Burning with cruel rage and insatiable revenge, each 

 party again rushed into battle — again the horrors of war were 

 repeated and prolonged — and again they retreated. This con- 

 tinued during the whole day ; and the carnage did not cease 

 till the sun was below the horizon. The air was then deserted 

 by the combatants ; but the earth was strewn with the slain, the 

 dying, and maimed. Not one that bit the dust ever again left 

 the earth, to which his own rashness and savageness had 

 brought him ! 



2. Economy of Clytus arcuatus. 



Sir, — I published some remarks on this insect in the Ento- 

 mological Magazine, Vol. I. p. 212; perhaps you will oblige 

 me by inserting the following particulars, in addition. The 

 females lay their eggs in the chinks of the bark of oak-trees 

 that have been felled, but not stripped of their bark ; and, as 

 they appear to frequent the trees for this purpose only, it is 

 obviously the reason why the insect is never found on those 

 trees which have the bark stripped. As soon as the eggs are 



