SLAVE-MAKING ANTSl 41 



or more come out, and quickly reclose the 

 entrance. A small place is left open, so that 

 one at a time can squeeze in and out. I 

 place sugar and various things about the 

 nest, but they store nothing away, and eat 

 sparingly. 



On the 3d of August I notice a very curi- 

 ous proceeding on the part of these red -war- 

 riors. Their nest extends into the edge of 

 a tulip bed, which is bordered with the iris 

 before mentioned. The bed is about three 

 feet wide, and in the border just opposite is 

 a nest of tiny yellow ants, with which I am 

 unfamiliar, so small that they are scarcely 

 distinguishable to the naked eye. They are 

 scarcely longer than the little red ant which 

 is often such a pest to house - keepers, but 

 they are broader and more robust than this 

 species, and of a light yellow color. From 

 fifty to a hundred red marauders assail the 

 nest of this tiny species ; but the openings 

 are so small that they cannot get to the nest, 

 except as they go to work and enlarge them, 

 and this proceeding is fiercely resented by 

 the little ants ; sometimes three or four will 

 attack one of the invaders, fastening them- 

 selves to him in such positions that he can- 

 iiot reach them with his mandibles, and they 

 hold on with such pertinacity that he finally 



