92 



ANT-IANA. 



that the ants left behind were smaller than those in the army and were 

 of a darker color ; the wariors being of a yellowish red. 



Since that time I have frequently visited both nests and found the 

 two species living harmoniously together, while the other is inhabited 

 entirely by the smaller kind. Tlie labor at that nest occupied by both 

 species appears to be performed exclusively by the smaller ants, while 

 the others render no assistance whatever in the domestic concerns, of the 

 colony. 



On the 31st of July I met with an army of the same species descri- 

 bed above. They were marching in a direct course on a road or walk. 

 The train was 3 or 4 feet in length and from 4 to 7 inches in breadth, 

 forming a dense column gradually tapering towards the rear. There 

 being a few straggling individuals along the line of their march, I was 

 enabled to trace them back from whence they came, where I found a 

 large nest of them in the edge of some grass. They marched in a very 

 orderly and systematic manner, but before they arrived at the place of 

 their destination, I was obliged to leave them. 



I returned to the place about two hours after, but was unable to dis- 

 cern the train or ascertain what had transpired during my absence. This 

 is the largest colony of this species I have discovered, and on examina- 

 tion, I find that it is inhabited by two kinds, one of yellowish red, and 

 the others, which are smaller, of a dark red or brown color. 



I have been much interested in observing the movements of this col- 

 ony. When disturbed, they manifest a very pugnacious disposition, par- 

 ticularly the large species, wliich run about in a furious manner, biting 

 whatever happens to be within their reacli, and when they once seize 

 hold of an object, they will sufler themselves to be almost killed, rather 

 than relinquish their grasp. 



There is one very singular fact connected with their movements when 

 excited, which is, that when two of them meet, they invariably strike 

 or cross their antennae, and when only one of them is excited before 

 meeting, this interview imparts to the other the same hasty and furious 

 movement; and this is communicated from one to the other, until the 

 excitement becomes general throughout the colony. 



In order more fully to satisfy myself of this fact, I took away one 

 of the ants from a part of the settlement where I had disturbed them, 

 and put it among those in another part, where they were frequently en- 

 gaged in their labor. As soon as this ant came in contact with one of 

 those at work, it too became excited and ran about in a furious manner, 

 and in a short time this industrious scene was converted into one of 

 confusion and disorder. I have never seen the large yellow ants parti- 



