68 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



and the one for which it seemed all contended, was the 

 ligament which joined the main body with the head. 

 This vital member once seized by the powerful nippers, 

 death succeeded without a struggle, and the victor was 

 ready and eager for another engagement. 



No undue advantage was taken by either party ; and no 

 two would endeavor to overpower a single one ; nor was 

 there any flinching or wavering in a single instance, for 

 whenever two belligerents met it was certain death to one 

 or both parties. Never, perhaps, were two armies more 

 equally matched in numbers, strength and valor ; and 

 consequently at the close of the battle, which lasted two 

 nights and a day, as new recruits continued to arrive at 

 every moment, there were but few left, and probably none 

 of the vanquished army, thus rivalling the valor of the 

 heroes of the Alamo and the Spartan band of Leonidas. 

 Observing closely, I could see a slight difference in the 

 appearance of the contestants, one set being perfectly 

 black, with a large head, while the other was nearer brown, 

 with a smaller head, though both about equally matched 

 in size and strength. Dismembered legs were numerous, 

 and many an unfortunate though valiant hero, being en- 

 tirely deprived of his supporters, was thus left, hors de 

 combat, to die on the held. The next morning I swept 

 up the dead and dying of both armies (for I would not 

 disturb them while engaged), amounting to thousands." 



In view of the facts given, my own suggestions are now 

 added. That the maiming alone does not always cause 

 the death of those ants is evident. Unless I am greatly in 

 error, experimenters have proved this by clipping off an- 

 tennse or legs. Death does not follow for several days at 

 least, and then perhaps from inability to obtain food or 

 drink. Indeed, I observed an ant running about for a 

 long time with his abdomen bitten off or hanging only by 



