66 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



In the afternoon, on my return from the office, so 

 soon as it was cool enough to venture outside I went 

 into the verandah, very curious to see what had hap- 

 pened. The position of affairs was not at all what 

 might have been anticipated. The two ants were 

 separated, and were walking about the saucer on terms 

 of the most perfect amiability ; and, moreover, what 

 struck me as still more singular, the leg of the large 

 ant, notwithstanding the severe biting it had sustained, 

 showed no sign or indication whatever of injury. To 

 make sure on this point I examined the leg through 

 my magnifying-glass. The glass was a powerful one. 

 Nevertheless, though I examined most carefully, I 

 could not discover on the leg any cut, wound, or even 

 indentation. The small ant must have consequently 

 retained his hold merely by the pressure of his jaws. 

 That he should have been able to retain his hold so 

 firmly showed how powerful a pressure his tiny jaws 

 were able to exert. 



My notes do not exactly record how long the fighting 

 continued, but about the third morning, I think, on 

 visiting the nest, I found that the ants had resumed 

 their usual occupations, and had laid out an entirely 

 new foraging track. The rapidity with which the track 

 had been constructed showed their diligence ; a portion 

 of it manifested either their obstinacy or their extreme 

 stupidity. 



The new track lay along the bank of the terrace, not 

 far from the edge. At one place the bank had given 

 way. In consequence of this, for the distance of about 

 a yard, in place of firm, level soil there was a mass of 



