MILITARY ANTS. 115 



branching oflf in various directions, and searching about 

 with the utmost activity for insects, grubs, &c., over every 

 log, under every fallen leaf, and in every nook and cranny 

 where there is any chance of finding prey. When their 

 errand is completed, they return into the main column. 

 If the prey found is sufficiently small for the scouts them- 

 sel\^es to manage, it is immediately seized, and carried 

 back to the main column ; but if the amount is too large 

 for the scouts to deal with alone, messengers are sent back 

 to the main column, whence there is immediately dis- 

 patched a detachment large enough to cope with the re- 

 quirements. Insects which when killed are too large for 

 single ants to carry, are torn in pieces, and the pieces 

 conveyed back to the main army by different individuals. 

 Many insects in trying to escape run up bushes and shrubs, 

 where they are pursued from branch to branch and twig 

 to twig by their remorseless enemies, until on arriving at 

 some terminal ramification they must either submit to 

 immediate capture by their pursuers, or drop down amid 

 the murderous hosts beneath. As already stated, all the 

 spoils that are taken by the scouts or by the detachments 

 sent out in answer to their demands for assistance, are 

 immediately taken back to the main column. When they 

 arrive there, they are taken to the rear of that column by 

 two smaller columns of carriers, which are constantly 

 running, one on either side of the main column, with the 

 supplies that are constantly pouring in from both sides. 

 Each of these outside columns is a double line, the ants 

 composing one of the two lines all running in the same 

 direction as the main army, and the ants composing the 

 other line all running in the opposite direction. The 

 former are empty-handed carriers, which having deposited 

 their burdens in the rear, are again advancing to the 

 van for fresh burdens. Those composing the other line 

 are all laden with the mangled remains of insects, pupae 

 of other ants, &c. On either side of the main column 

 there are also constantly running up and down a few in- 

 dividuals of smaller size and lighter colour than the other 

 ants, which seem to play the part of officers ; for they 

 never leave their stations, and while running up and 



I 2 



