184 THE UNIVERSE. 



each other. "I shall not say/' exclaims Huber, "what 

 lighted up discord between these two republics, the one as 

 populous as the other; two empires do not 230ssess a greater 

 number of combatants. The two armies met midway be- 

 tween their respective residences. Their serried columns 

 reached from the field of battle to the nest, and were two 

 feet in width. An immense reserve thus sup^Dorted the 

 fighting body, where thousands of ants, mounted on the 

 smallest eminences, fought two and two, attacking each 

 other by means of their jaws. Others carried off prisoners, 

 but not Avithout rough struggles, for they kncAV the cruel 

 fate that aAvaited them so soon as ever they reached the 

 hostile nest. 



"The field of battle, which extended over a space of 

 from two to three square feet, Avas strewed with dead 

 bodies and wounded ; it was also covered with venom and 

 exhaled a penetrating odour. Here and there single com- 

 bats were still maintained. The struggle began between 

 two ants which locked themselves together Avitli their 

 mandibles, while they raised themselves upon their legs. 

 They quickly grasped each other so tightly that they rolled 

 one over the other in the dust. Generally the two athletes 

 were succoured, and chains were seen of six or eight ants, 

 locked one with another, and dragging the two adversaries 

 in different directions until either one let go, or Avas carried 

 ofl^by superior strength." 



At the approach of night the two armies effected a 

 retreat and re-entered their dwellings. But the next day 

 the carnage began again with still greater fury, and Huber 

 saw the melee extend over a depth of six feet and tAvo feet 

 of frontage. The exasperation of the combatants Avas so 

 great that not one of them noticed the observer, or dreamed 

 of attacking him. 



