260 ANTS AND CHILDREN OF THE GARDEN 



roll after the battle was over. Yet, generally, these ants 

 don't fight when they meet. Even a trail of our ants and 

 the Robbers may cross without danger. 



ALBERT. But look out if it's a defense of home or 

 herds. Then it's a fight to a finish. There's no bluffing 

 fit such times no nipping, but death gripping. Still, I've 

 seen Carpenters, Acrobats, Garden ants, and even Long- 

 legs visit the yard of our ants and stay for a meal even 

 eat side by side with ours. 



KENNETH. I'm told that, around here, the Acrobats 

 attend their herds the year round, but that the Carpenters 

 omit "winter. 



CECIL. Of course, the Acrobats and Carpenters could 

 swap herds and get along just as well as if they wanted to. 



ALBERT. Say, the Acrobats have built fourteen stables 

 for their cows in the scars that are healing over on the 

 trunk of that acacia. One stable has fourteen cows in it. 

 There's a tiny hole in each roof so the ants can get in and 

 out, but the cows can't (October). 



KENNETH. Maybe the cows won't want out until 

 spring, for there's plenty to eat in the new bark of the 

 scars. I saw some cows go into the stable before the roof 

 was finished. 



CECIL. I saw a calf squeeze through a very small door 

 to get into the stable. I thought I'd help. So I placed a 

 young cow in an unfinished stable. The ants bit it and 

 promptly carried it out. Then I placed one just outside 

 the door and the ants toted it in. Ants are as queer as 

 girls. 



KENNETH. The cows will stay in the sheds all winter, 

 but the rain and winds may destroy the roofs. The young 

 ones will grow, and by next May or earlier will lay eggs. 

 Often I've seen as many as nine ants trying to milk one 

 cow (scale). 



