978 COMPOUND ANT-HILLS: 
take their departure earlier, but never 
before two, nor later than five. They 
always return at six or half past six. 
They never quit their abode, unless the 
weather be fine. 
These insects have but one object in 
their excursions, that of stealing the 
young from an industrious race, and 
making slaves of them; and these are 
the very individuals, who, after a time, 
labour for this Amazon colony, rear their 
young, and furnish them with provisions. 
This being the sole aim of the Amazons, 
they never seize any but larve and 
working pups, for the males and females 
would be useless. Nature would not as- 
suredly allow the destruction of the ha- 
bitations of Negro Ants, since this would 
be to involve in equal ruin those of the 
Amazons. 
These warlike ants are sufficiently ais 
acquainted with all the nests inhabited 
by Ash-coloured Ants in their neighbour- 
hood, to each. of which, in turn, they 
pay a visit. ‘The route is every day vas 
