13-i NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



stopping and touching some of the ants with their an- 

 tenna 3 . They look like officers giving orders and direct- 

 ing the march of the column. 



5. " My attention was generally first called to them by 

 the twittering of some small birds belonging to different 

 species. On approaching, a dense body of the ants, three 

 or four yards wide, and so numerous as to blacken the 

 ground, would be seen moving rapidly in one direction, 

 examining every cranny and underneath eveiw fallen leaf. 

 On the flanks, and in advance of the main body, smaller 

 columns would be pushed out. These smaller columns 

 would generally first flush the cockroaches, grasshoppers, 

 and spiders. The pursued insects would rapidly make off, 

 but many, in their confusion and terror, would bound 

 right into the midst of the main body of ants. At first, 

 the grasshopper, when it found itself in the midst of its 

 enemies, would give vigorous leaps, with perhaps two or 

 three of the ants clinging to its legs. Then it would stop 

 a moment to rest, and that moment would be fatal, for the 

 tiny foes would swarm over the prey, and, after a few more 

 ineffectual struggles, it would succumb to its fate, and 

 soon be bitten to pieces and carried off to the rear. 



6. "The greatest catch of the ants was, however, when 

 they got among some fallen brushwood. The cockroaches, 

 spiders, and other insects, instead of running right away, 

 would ascend the fallen branches and remain there, while 

 the host of ants were occupying all the ground beneath. 

 By and by, up would come some of the ants, following 

 every branch, and driving before them their prey to the 

 ends of the small twigs, where nothing remained for them 

 but to leap, and they would alight in the very throng of 

 their foes, with the result of being certainly caught and 

 pulled to pieces. 



7. "The ants send off exploring parties up the trees, 

 which hunt for nests of was]3S, bees, and probably birds. 



