UNDER TUE MAPLES. 129 



and tried to wrest it from her; but finding that her 

 strength was not sufficient she let go her hold, and has- 

 tened to the nearest camp to tell of this desirable prize. 

 Soon a dozen or more of the Lasius were on the track. 

 She now became thoroughly alarmed, and impetuously 

 rushed forward until she came to a deep pit. She did 

 not drop the body, but clung frantically to the edge of 

 the pit, until the little fragment of earth gave way, 

 and she was precipitated with her burden to the bottom. 

 The Lasius lingered a while, waiting for her re-appear- 

 ance ; but she did not come, and they returned to their 

 quarters. 



The Pheidoles' mode of defence when attacked by 

 a large army is unlike that of any other species with 

 which I am acquainted. A great troop of Lasius from 

 surrounding camps came down upon the city, with the 

 determination to take it. They scaled the fortified 

 gate and hastily threw aside the barricade, but were 

 met by a solid phalanx of large-headed soldiers which 

 completely filled the gap. Defeated here, their next 

 move was to mine into a street a short distance from 

 the gate. But their labor was of no avail ; here, too, 

 was a phalanx of soldiers, and not a Lasius was allowed 

 to pass within. But they had their revenge in another 

 way. Every little while one of the workers, who had 

 been away from home, returned, and tried to reach the 

 entrance, but was invariably seized by the enemy, when 

 one or two soldiers would come to the rescue, and the 

 little worker would make her escape and promptly pass 

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