298 AMAZON ANTS. 
Negro Ants. At length the large females 
came forth from the citadel, climbed 
the neighbouring plants, and in their 
turn received from the Negro Ants and 
the Amazons, the same attention as the 
males. At eleven o’clock the males 
became extremely restless, ran against 
and overturned each other, beat the air 
with their wings, and finally finished 
their gambols by taking flight. The 
females followed their example. More 
than fifty females, and four times as many 
males, quitted the nest. I kept guard for 
some time thinking they would return ; 
' but I never saw them more. 
The appearance of this ant-hill was 
both satisfactory and pleasing ; the con- 
trast of females of a fine yellow colour, 
with little males entirely black; of winged 
insects with neuters destitute of wings; 
and of Amazon labourers, living in friend- 
ly union with such a number of Ash- 
coloured Ants, presented a picture full 
of interest, notwithstanding the trifling 
size of the objects that composed it. 
