254 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 
themselves in a line of battle, three ranks deep, their right 
wing being covered by a mass of several hundred, while 
their left wing was supported by nearly a thousand individ- 
uals. Thus the two armies moved one against the other, 
until they approached each other near enough to commence 
the battle, when the two masses which supported the wings 
formed oblong squares, from three to four inches wide, with- 
out taking part in the affray. Then the fighting began with 
fury, the jaws, stings, and venom constituting their formi- 
dable weapons; and very soon mutilated bodies, heads, and 
headless trunks, torn-out feet and legs could be seen lying 
all over that miniature battle-ground. The fight was con- 
tinued with great vigor until noon, when the massacre 
ceased, and the remnant of the brown ants took flight to 
parts unknown, while the black ants, as the victors, took 
possession of the fortresses of the enemy, carrying along 
with them their wounded fellow-soldiers. 
Such stories seem really wonderful; but they are true, 
and may be seen in our pine woods every summer by every 
person who will take the pains to be an attentive observer 
of natural phenomena, and not be content to go through 
life a mere thoughtless, promenading automaton. 
We have called the ants useful insects, and so they are 
in many ways. They furnish us with formic acid and 
frankincense, and they rid us of many injurious larve and 
other noxious insects, besides destroying carrion; but they 
are injurious to bee-hives, flowers, cherries, pears, and oth- 
er fruit. They are more numerous and voracious in hot 
climates. While in the island of Hayti, we left open, dur- 
ing only one night, a case containing more than three hun- 
dred specimens of valuable insects on pins, and the next 
morning we were much grieved, as well as surprised, to 
find the case entirely empty; nothing but the pins were left ; 
all the insects had been devoured by the ants. No article 
of food, no clothing, and no papers of importance can be 
