THE AMAZON ANTS. 851 
order or regularity.* The whole army 
might be readily distinguished in the 
grass, by the contrast afforded by the 
Rufescent Ants, and the white eggs and 
pup they had captured. ‘They repassed 
the hedge and the road, in the place they 
had previously crossed it, and then 
directed their course through a field 
of ripened corn, where I experienced 
the regret of not being able to follow 
them. 
I now retraced my steps towards the 
scene of the recent assault, and there 
* The tactics of these marauders vary with the 
enemy they have to contend with; in this instance, 
conscious of carrying off their booty, without further 
opposition from the Ash-coloured Ants, the army 
no longer keeps in rank, but separates into strag- 
gling parties, each hastening by a different route, to 
deposit their spoil in the common treasury ; but, 
when these intrepid adventurers attack a nest of 
mining ants, and return successful, they are 
then obliged, from the known spirit and courage of 
the latter, to kecp close order, and march in a body 
to the very gates of their citadel; as it not unfre- 
quently happens, they are followed and harassed 
the whole way by the mining ants, who leave no 
exertion untried to recover their treasure. — T. 
m 6 
