Chap. IX. BATTLE OF ANTS. 1S9 



to screen them from the eyes of birds, thread over the 

 ground, up the trunks of trees and along the branches, from 

 which the little architects clear away all rotten or dead 

 wood. Very often the exact shape of branches is left in 

 tunnels on the ground and not a bit of the wood inside. 

 The first night we passed here these destructive insects ate 

 through our grass-beds, and attacked our blankets, and certain 

 large red-headed ones even bit our flesh. 



On some days not a single white ant is to be seen 

 abroad ; and on others, and during certain hours, they appear 

 out of doors in myriads, and work with extraordinary zeal and 

 energy in carrying bits of dried grass down into their nests. 

 During these busy reaping-fits, the lizards and birds have 

 a good time of it, and enjoy a rich feast at the expense of 

 thousands of hapless workmen ; and, when they swarm, they 

 are caught in countless numbers by the natives, and their 

 roasted bodies are spoken of in an unctuous manner as 

 resembling grains of soft rice fried in delicious fresh oil. 



A strong marauding party of large black ants attacked a 

 nest of white ones near the camp : as the contest took place 

 beneath the surface, we could not see the order of the battle ; 

 but it soon became apparent that the blacks had gained the 

 day, and sacked the white town, for they returned in triumph, 

 bearing off the eggs, and choice bits of the bodies of the van- 

 quished. A gift, analogous to that of language, has not been 

 withheld from ants : if part of their building is destroyed, an 

 official is seen coming out to examine the damage ; and, after 

 a careful survey of the ruins, he chirrups a few clear and dis- 

 tinct notes, and a crowd of workers begin at once to repair 

 the breach. When the work is completed, another order is 

 given, and the workmen retire, as will appear on removing the 

 soft freshly-built portion. We tried to sleep one rainy night 



