190 WARS OF ANTS. 
keeping firm hold of their antagonists 
by their mandibles: a considerable num- 
ber were engaged in the attack and lead- 
ing away prisoners. ‘The latter made 
several ineffectual efforts to escape, as 
if aware that, upon their arrival at the 
camp they would experience a cruel 
death. The scene of warfare occupied 
a space of about three feet square; a 
penetrating odour exhaled from all sides; 
numbers of dead ants were seen cover- 
ed with venom. Those ants composing 
groups and chains, took hold of each 
other’s legs and pincers, and dragged 
their antagonists on the ground. ‘These 
groups formed successively. ‘The fight 
usually commenced between two ants, 
who seized each other by the mandibles, 
and raised themselves upon their hind- 
legs, to allow of their bringing their ab- 
domen forward, and spurting the venom 
upon their adversary. They were fre- 
quently so closely wedged together that 
they fell upon their sides, and fought a 
long time, in that situation, in the dust; 
