142 HISTORY OF 



strong soever, when they have once seized upon 

 it, has power to resist them. 



It often happens that these insects quit their 

 retreat in a body, and go in quest of adventures. 

 " During my stay," says Smith, " at Cape Corse 

 Castle, a body of these ants came to pay us a 

 visit in our fortification. It was about day-break 

 when the advanced guard of this famished crew 

 entered the chapel, where some Negro servants 

 were asleep upon the floor. . The men were 

 quickly alarmed at the invasion of this unexpect- 

 ed army, and prepared, as w r ell as they could, for 

 a defence. While the foremost battalion of in- 

 sects had already taken possession of the place, 

 the rear-guard was more than a quarter of a mile 

 distant. The whole ground seemed alive, and 

 crawling with unceasing destruction. After de- 

 liberating a few moments upon what was to be 

 done, it was resolved to lay a large train of gun- 

 powder along the path they had taken ; by this 

 means millions were blown to pieces, and the 

 rear-guard perceiving the destruction of their 

 leaders, thought proper instantly to return, and 

 make back to their original habitation." 



The order which these ants observe seems very 

 extraordinary ; whenever they sally forth, fifty or 

 sixty larger than the rest are seen to head the 

 band, and conduct them to their destined prey. 

 If they have a fixed spot where their prey con- 

 tinues to resort, they then form a vaulted gallery, 

 which is sometimes a quarter of a mile in length, 

 and yet they will hollow it out in the space of 

 ten or twelve hours. 



