Food and Feeding 95 



kinds in order to catch them. Their greatest feasts in 

 this line are obtained when they discover the huge low 

 hills of what, in the West, are called Vinegar Ants. 

 These are only moderate in size, but are extremely 

 vicious. They get their name from a strong odor, 

 resembling that of vinegar, that they exhale when 

 aroused. They build large hills, sometimes several 

 feet in diameter, made up for the most part of pine 

 needles, bits of wood, pellets of earth, and such like 

 stuff. They are red and black in color, have power- 

 ful jaws, and rush by the thousand to give battle to any 

 intruder that disturbs their home. It is this latter 

 trait that makes them an easy prey to the Black Bear. 

 When he discovers an ant-hill belonging to this species 

 .he walks up to it, runs one of his fore-legs deep down 

 into the inside of it, gives a turn to his paw that effect- 

 ually stirs things up below, and then stretches himself 

 out at ease to await results, with his front legs extended 

 to the base of the hill. 



Out rush the ants by companies and regiments and 

 brigades; mad as hornets, brave as lions, smelling like 

 a spoiled vinegar mill, and looking for trouble. They 

 get it, almost immediately. They discover the bear's 

 furry paws and, struggling and tumbling in the hair 

 like angry and hurrying warriors in a jungle, they begin 

 to swarm over them. And as fast as they come the 

 bear licks them up. When the excitement dies down, 

 he gives the inside of the hill another poke. This re- 



