SLAVE-MAKING ANTS. 33 



larva now tries flight on the smooth car- 

 riage drive. This gives the ants the advan- 

 tage ; they fasten their mandibles in every 

 available spot. Again the larva stops and 

 thrashes violently from side to side, and dis- 

 lodges a good many, bnt not all. Again it 

 starts at a rapid rate, most of the ants fol- 

 lowing, bnt some turn back and go to the 

 nest as if discouraged. The larva now comes 

 to a little heap of d6bris washed here by the 

 rain, and takes refuge under it. This sweeps 

 all the ants off, and they seem puzzled for a 

 moment ; but very soon they find where it 

 is, and commence taking the light material 

 from over it and throwing it to one side. 

 Soon they reach it, and the larva, again feel- 

 ing their mandibles, rushes out, and goes a 

 few inches to another pile, where it again 

 seeks refuge. By this time many of the 

 ants have returned home, only about a doz- 

 en remaining; but these soon unearth it; 

 and now it goes very fast a little way, and 

 brings up against a wall of brick set edge- 

 wise in the earth to prevent the grass from 

 encroaching on the drive. Instead of going 

 over this wall only an inch or so above the 

 ground it is trying to get its head under 

 something. Only seven ants now remain ; 

 but they are getting the advantage of the 



