tlicv jJi'dhiiMy siiffc-r severe loss. I'lKler siieli (•ii'eiiinstjinces, 

 we find tliem l)rini>-inii' ii'i-eat ])iles of the hrood to the surfiiec, 

 jiiid de))ositiiiii' it just heiieatli the stones or othei' ()l)iects, 

 \vli(M-e it may l)e easily destroyed hy fiirtliei- floods. 



A\'heii thus set-to to save tlieii- hrood, the ants make use of 

 any struetni'e al)o\'e uronnd ; hence, we find tluna doini>' con- 

 sideral)le danniiic in un])roteeted a|)iai'ies"" dnrinc,' the rainv 

 season. At this timi^ every hive has a tiirixiiiL;- eoloiiv of' ants 

 heneatli it, and, as the s<iil becomes sulnvated, they irv to 

 move inside. They huild co\-ei'ed runways, of soil ;ind hits 

 of trash, eonnectinii- tlieii- nest with the openiuii' to the hive, 

 and tlnis effect an entrance without a])])arent i-emonsti-ance on 

 the part of the bees. The ants then heii'in their attack hy 

 catchinG,' the bees along the edg'es of the cond)s, but with each 

 success their nnnd)ers increase, nntil tliey literally co\<'r e\-ery 

 s(|nare inch of space within the hive, and the i-emaiiunii- bees 

 are compelled to flee for safety. When the swarm has been 

 thus gotten rid of, the ants devote theii- attention to the de- 

 struction of the lar\al bees, and often move ])ai't of their nest 

 into the hive. 



Tn such an onslaught it is the small workers who I'ush in 

 from all sides, seizing legs and wings of the prey; but they 

 are soon assisted hy the soldiers, who not only help to ludd 

 the struggling insect, hnt also offer most effective service in 

 dismendiering it with their powerful jaws, and, in biting it 

 up into pieces of such size that they can l)e easily carried hy 

 the workers. The soldiers apparently disdain any other duties 

 than these, for they have not been observed either cai'i-ying 

 food, or assisting in the removal of brood in the suddenly 

 opened nest. Tn the regular file of workers, struggling nndei- 

 their heavy loads, these big-headed fellows inai'ch along empty 

 handed. They have an inquisitive way of rushing up to each 

 workei- that they meet and touching antennae for an instant 

 before passing. Furthei'more, the workers do all the foraging 

 — a great excess of soldiers being usually found in the nest, 

 as if waiting for a ''call to arms". As soon as a new food 



* Methods for the protection of bees discussed under control 

 measures. 



