289 COMPOUND ANT-HILLS. 
general mass, and thus the advanced 
guard sustains a continual renovation. 
I have never seen Amazon females in 
these armies: the neuters alone, as in 
all the other species, subject themselves 
to the chances of war. They do not 
march by groping or feeling their way, 
but run after their companions in arms, 
without any fear of straggling, and 
even should they do so, which is rarely 
the case, they are then brought back to 
the ant-hill by some of the Negro Ants, 
who, upon discovering them, seem suf- 
ficiently to understand the nature of their 
situation. 
I was once present when the whole 
army appeared to be deceived in its 
route. It commenced its march after 
the ordinary manner; in place, however, 
of following a straight line, it described 
a curve, and reached a distance of about 
fifty paces, halting several times. After 
diverging on all sides, without discover- 
ing any of the usual objects of attack, 
they fell again into column, and returned 
