WARS OF ANTS. 199 
the thorax or abdomen, embraced and 
overthrew each other, then raised them- 
selves by turns, taking their revenge 
without producing any mischief. They 
did not spurt forth their venom, as in 
their combats, nor retain their adversary 
with that obstinacy which we observe 
in their serious quarrels. They presently 
abandoned the ants they had seized, and 
endeavoured to lay hold of others. I 
saw some who were so eager in these 
exercises, that they pursued successively 
several workers, and struggled with them 
a few moments, the combat only termi- 
nating, when the least animated, having 
overthrown his antagonist, succeeded in 
escaping and hiding in one of the 
galleries. 
I frequently visited this ant-hill, which 
almost always presented me the same 
spectacle: sometimes this disposition was 
general; groups of ants were seen here 
and there struggling together; but I 
never saw any quit the ant-hill wounded 
or maimed. 
K 4 
