THE AMAZON ANTS. 259 
Let us still follow this army of plun- 
derers on their return a second time, to 
the attack of the nearly ruined ant-hil. 
Its inhabitants, however, have had time 
to recover themselves, and to station a 
strong guard at each of the entrances. 
The Legionaries, who are in small num- 
bers at first, take flight as soon as they 
perceive the Negroes in a state of defence; 
they return to the main body of the 
army, and advance and retreat several 
times successively, until they are in suf- 
ficient force ; they then throw themselves 
en masse upon one of the galleries, driving 
away and putting in confusion its inha- 
bitants. The whole army now enter the 
subterranean city, and seize upon the 
larvee, which they carry off in great 
numbers, and in great haste. ‘They 
never take any of the parent ants prison- 
ers, their sole object being the possession 
of their offspring. Upon their return to 
the garrison, the most friendly reception 
is still given to the Amazons, who — their 
associates having arranged the produce 
