SLAVE-MAKING ANTS. 43 



openings, through which they can pass in 

 and out readily. 



A rain-storm now comes on, lasting three 

 days. During the storm the ants remain 

 closely housed. On the morning of the 8th 

 a dozen or more resume the work of exca- 

 vation. By this time they have killed so 

 many of the little ants that they can work 

 without much interruption. 



What they are after is to me shrouded in 

 mystery ; they certainly cannot want the 

 larvse and pupre of such a tiny species as 

 this ! On the 9th they still continue work, 

 and on the morning of the 10th the treasure 

 is unearthed, and proves to be a great num- 

 ber of large winged females, longer than the 

 red marauders, and with large full abdo- 

 mens, so heavy that it takes two of the cap- 

 tors to drag them to the nest. Many of the 

 tiny workers have congregated about them, 

 trying to defend them with their lives. But 

 the great, helpless females allow themselves 

 to be taken captive and dragged away with- 

 out offering the least resistance. 



There must have been several hundred of 

 these large females, and of course they had 

 never seen the light. Probably the little 

 workers would have released them before 

 this if their home had not been assailed. 



