UNDER THE MAPLES. 125 



times larger than one of the ants was placed a short 

 distance from the gate of the city. A wandering indi- 

 vidual from the tribe of Lasius discovered it at the 

 same moment with one of the Pheidoles. (As our lit- 

 tle harvester has ■ a name and place in the scientific 

 world, I will hereafter call it by its generic name, Phei- 

 dole.) The two are about equally matched in size and 

 strength, and now a struggle ensues for the coveted 

 prize. First one and then the other seems to have the 

 advantage. Lasius succeeds in getting it a short dis- 

 tance from the place of discovery in the direction of 

 her camp, but is obliged to drop it to make sure of her 

 bearings, when Plieidole hurries with it in the opposite 

 direction, eager to place it within her gate before the 

 other again seizes it. But Lasius is not to be beaten in 

 this manner, and again straggles for the mastery, and 

 it begins to look as if she might be successful. At this 

 point Plieidole seems to be discouraged, gives up the 

 contest and starts for home. She enters the gate for a 

 moment, and hastily returns, closely followed by a sol- 

 dier. During this short interval Lasius has moved well 

 forward in the direction of her camp. Plieidole reach- 

 es the spot where she left the prize only to find it gone, 

 and now she rushes in frantic haste round and round, 

 widening the circle as she advances, until she finds La- 

 sius, and again lays hold of the fly. The soldier, mean- 

 while, moves more slowly, but makes the same circuit, 

 until she reaches the contending parties, and takes hold 

 of the fly by the side of her comrade; and now the 



