202 WARS OF ANTS. 
them; but this disposition continued only 
two or three minutes, and was, I think, 
occasioned by the heat of the sun, never 
having observed it to take place but 
when the sun was high in the horizon. 
Several of those I noticed, after having 
whirled round some moments, fastened 
on the other ants by a leg or antenna, 
then relaxed their hold to run after 
others; sometimes carrying them off, 
but doing them no injury. In one place 
two ants appeared to be gambolling about 
a stalk of grass; they turned alternately 
to avoid or seize each other, which 
brought to my recollection the sport and 
the feigned combats of young dogs, when 
they rise on their hind-legs, attempting to 
bite, overthrow, and seize each other, 
without once closing their teeth. 
To witness these facts, it is necessary 
to approach the ant-hills with much 
caution, that the ants should have no 
idea of our presence; if they had, they 
would cease at the moment their plays 
and their occupations, would put them- _ 
