356 Mr. G. A. J. Rothnev'a iiotes 



the position of the two species. There were no yellow 

 ants round the base of the tree, but smaragdina appeared 

 in great numbers high up on the trunk on the north 

 side, and were descending towards the red and black in 

 the shape of a wedge, the base spreading almost across 

 the north side of the trunk, then tapering off to a point, 

 the apex being formed by a single ant supported by two, 

 the two by a line of three or four, and so on. When I 

 arrived this spear-head of ants was about two feet above 

 the entrance of Pseudomyrma's nest (which was a little 

 on the west side of the tree) ; it was not advancing, but 

 almost stationary, the only movement being made by 

 the few forming the apex : rufo-nigra clustered in 

 numbers round the entrance to their nest, but did not 

 attempt any counter move in force or combined effort ; 

 they contented themselves with light skirmishing with 

 the point of the smaragdina formation, but here, though 

 they tried many times, they could make no impression ; 

 rufo-nigra invariably engaged yellow ant No. 1, the 

 apex ; No. 1 instantly backed on Nos. 2 and 3 in the 

 second line, which brought an enemy on either flank, 

 which was too great odds, and rufo-nigra would have 

 much difficulty in disengaging herself. This went on 

 for some hours, till I had to leave. I never saw any 

 killed, but the apex of the yellows was once or twice 

 relieved from the rear : rufo-nigra was evidently much 

 alarmed, crowding round the entrance to their nest 

 with a restless unmeaning action and generally scared 

 look. 



I could never make out how smaragdiiia arrived at the 

 upper part of my tree ; either they must have ascended 

 on the south-east side (which was not so much fre- 

 quented), when rufo-nigra was not on the alert, or they 

 must have gone up the telegraph-post and travelled 

 along the wires, which just at one point touched a few 

 of the leaves of my tree. The trees on the right and 

 left of my tree did not touch. 



On Sunday, May 13th, I again visited my tree, 

 expecting to find smaragdina in possession, but the 

 reverse was the case ; there was not a single yellow ant 

 on it, rufo-nigra being in sole charge, and the work of 

 the colony going on as usual. What had happened in 

 the meantime I had no means of telling, but I think 



