WARS OP ANTS, 337 



that both ants received assistance at the same time, 

 when the whole four, keeping firm hold of a foot or 

 antenna?, made ineffectual attempts to win the battle. 

 In this way they sometimes formed groups of six, 

 eight, or ten firmly locked together, the group being 

 only broken when several warriors from the same 

 republic advanced at the same time, and compelled 

 the enchained insects to let go their hold, and then 

 the single combats were renewed : on the approach 

 of night, each party retired gradually to their own 

 city. 



*' Next morning, before dawn, the combatants re- 

 turned to the field of battle, the groups again formed 

 — the carnage recommenced with greater fury than 

 on the preceding evening, and the scene of combat oc- 

 cupied a space of six feet in length by two in breadth. 

 The event remained for a long time doubtful ; but 

 about mid-day the contending armies had removed 

 to the distance of a dozen feet from one of the cities, 

 whence I conclude some ground had been gained. 

 The ants fought so desperately that they did not 

 even perceive my presence ; for though I remained 

 close to the combatants, not one of them attempted 

 to climb my legs, seeming to be wholly absorbed in 

 the object of finding an enemy to wrestle with. 

 During this furious warfare the common operations 

 of the two colonies were not suspended, for the paths, 

 which led to a distance in the forest, were as much 

 thronged as in time of peace, and all around the 

 ant-hill order and tranquillity prevailed. On that 

 side alone where the battle raged were seen crowds 

 of the colonists running to and fro, some to join the 

 army and some to escort the prisoners. This war 

 terminated without any disastrous results to the 

 two republics. In fact it appeared that its duration 

 was shortened by long-continued rains, which com- 

 pelled each of the belligerents to keep within their 



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