IN THE OPEN 



bodies on the walk, though many were carried 

 away. This I took to be a veritable hunting ex- 

 pedition. Like some other "sportsmen," they ap- 

 peared to kill more than they wanted, and the 

 little heaps of winged dead were left to be scat- 

 tered by a gust of wind. 



On the following day a new chapter opened in 

 the history of this remarkable colony, for I found 

 them attacking a large negro colony some distance 

 away. Contrary to custom, the blacks defended 

 their nests with spirit, and at first seemed to hold 

 their own. Not divining what was to follow, I 

 was surprised to find the red ants carrying away 

 no pupae. But the next day it was made plain 

 enough, for the red ants appeared in a compadt 

 column bearing pupse and slaves, which but a 

 week before they had deposited under the walk, 

 and which they were now moving for the third 

 time. Was this a second exodus or had the move 

 to the walk been merely an expedient until they 

 should find a more suitable place ? Without further 

 ado they invaded the nest, and four distinft colonies 

 (the red ants held slaves of a previous year), one 

 red and three black, with all larva? and pupa? and 

 some eggs, were thus housed together. One may 



no 



