244 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



to dry, and came every day to eat it. Of course they 

 tramped on our ants, too, and maybe did worse than that. 



The Robber Ants Attack Another Colony of Harvesters. 



ALBERT. Kenneth and I saw the Robbers attack an- 

 other colony of Harvesters one evening. The Harvesters 

 were nearly all out on the trail, headed for the harvest 

 field. Thousands of the enemy marched in behind them, 

 attacked them, and prevented their return. 



KENNETH. A part of the Robber gang held the Har- 

 vesters about fifty feet from home, while others went back 

 to kidnap the young ones. 



ALBERT. But they had bad luck there were no babies 

 in the home, it seemed. Besides, a colony of Carpenters 

 that lived but a few inches away learned of the danger, 

 and attacked and killed several of the enemy. 



KENNETH. The Robbers must have reported their 

 failure to headquarters, for the legion filed off across the 

 country to find another home to rob. 



ALBERT. I wish you could have seen the thousands of 

 Robbers march in files like soldiers, four to ten abreast. 

 They seemed to move as one body. 



KENNETH. Although they have no eyes, they have 

 no trouble to follow each other as they march over new 

 areas. Instead of following a scented trail, tliey give off 

 an odor not of formic acid that enables them to keep 

 together. They are great travelers keep going on and on. 

 Migratory. 



ALBERT. Dead Robbers are to be found around the 

 doors of many Harvester colonies. Wonder why the night 

 scavengers do not gather them up like they do other dead 

 ants. 



