104 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



or a tug-of-war game. It was two colonies like ours that 

 were about twenty-five feet apart when home. 



DOROTHY. How was it? 



KENNETH. A few would line up on each side and pull 

 in opposite directions. There were about twenty of such 

 groups. They didn't seem to hurt each other. I guess it 

 was a friendly fight. We'll have to learn more about this 

 kind of a field meet. 



CECIL. Two colonies of the same kind may have a sort 

 of friendly fight, sham battle, or tug-of-war. Such a fight 

 may last a month. No harm may come to either side or 

 one colony may rob the other of its grain. The ants 

 robbed may or may not leave the old nest. It's a little as 

 if their grain was put up as a wager in a sham battle. 



KENNETH. Do all colonies act alike when attacked in 

 a real battle? 



ANT. Oh, no. Large colonies usually fight and small 

 ones usually run. Some play 'possum, while others leap 

 around to dodge the enemy. 



KENNETH. Then it depends mainly on the number that 

 can be hustled together for defense. 



CECIL. I can see that acid would be dangerous, but 

 that other bad-smelling stuff wouldn't cut much figure in 

 a battle, would it? 



ANT. Then you wouldn't run from a skunk? I see that 

 man has learned to use gas in war. 



ALBERT. I'd like to see a real battle between two 

 colonies. 



ANT. Watch out and you will see us have one. 



ALBERT. But I don't want to wait. Kenneth, tell us 

 about the one you read about in Henry McCook's book on 

 Ants. The two colonies lived under the sidewalk, I believe. 



KENNETH. All right, if you will use your imagination. 



