RAIDS OF THE AMAZON ANTS 21 
had been invaded by legions of Amazon ants which 
had made their way upstairs and pillaged the 
precious handkerchief, carrying off the cocoons 
meant for the singing birds. The probability is 
that a wandering Amazon scout had discovered 
the treasure in the napkin and had carried the news 
to headquarters. Hence the raid—prompt, precise, 
and resolute; and our admiration for the Amazons 
grows. 
In one of Emery’s experiments, the artificial 
nest was placed in a walled court with no trace of 
desirable objects of pillage. Yet there were re- 
peated expeditions. Were these prompted by the 
victims of illusion, who “believed they had dis- 
covered ant nests where none existed”? This 
being absurd, Emery would have us note that his 
particular colony had been transplanted into a 
terra incognita, where, naturally enough (are we 
not poignantly aware of analogous cases in human 
warfare?), the expeditions were a little fatuous. 
In an established Amazon colony, however, mastery 
of the environment is soon attained, and the raids 
are swift and sure. We do not hold up Amazon 
ants as ideals for mankind—or should we not say 
womankind in a case like this?—but we confess 
to some admiration for their promptness, precision, 
courage—and success. It is rather a despicable 
business this kidnapping of children for slaves— 
but the Amazons do it well. In one raid which 
began about five o’clock in the afternoon, over a 
thousand prisoners were taken before quarter to 
