Jnsects, 335 



similar light variation often takes place in the female of Hipparchia Galatea, which, 

 instead of being marbled with black, has the markings of a light brown ; Cledeobia 

 albistrigalis. — Robert C. R. Jordan ; Teignmouth, September, 1843. 



Note on the Walking Branch Caterpillar. There occurs occasionally a caterpillar, 

 so exceedingly like a small dead twig or branch of a tree, that it is almost impossible 

 to distinguish it, unless you happen to see it move : it is also remarkable that the ca- 

 terpillar bears the strongest resemblance to the branches or twigs of the particular 

 tree on the leaves of which it is feeding : doubtless this similarity is a wonderful pro- 

 vision of Providence to deceive the birds, to which, from their exposed situation, they 

 must otherwise instantly become a prey. — M. Saul ; Fort Green Cottage, Garstang, 

 October, 1843. 



Note on the Economy of Ants. The observations on ants by Mr. Frederick Smith 

 (Zool. 262) brought to my recollection a circumstance which I observed last month in 

 a colony of ants in my garden. They had collected round the entrances of their gal- 

 leries a number (probably fifty) of the seeds of the common violet {Viola odorata) which 

 they were carefully carrying into their retreats. Modern writers on ants repudiate the 

 early statements of their laying up corn for their winter store, and destroying the ger- 

 minating principle ; and therefore I was not a little surprised to witness this apparent 

 confirmation of these early statements : for it is difficult to conceive for what purpose 

 they could be storing up these seeds, unless for a future supply of food. I very care- 

 fully compared the seeds which I took from the ants with others taken from a violet 

 growing in the immediate neighbourhood of the ants' nest ; therefore I am sure that 

 the seeds the ants were carrying into their holes were veritable violet-seeds. Probably 

 some of your correspondents would be kind enough, through your Magazine, to give 

 an opinion on the object the ants had in view in collecting and storing up these seeds. 

 Mr. Smith says he never witnessed a battle of ants ; I once had the good fortune to 

 see one, and recorded it in Loudon's * Magazine of Natural History,' iv. 149. — R. 

 Wakefield ; Lower Clapton, September 5, 1843. 



" A Battle of Ants. — On the 16th of last May, I was walking in my garden before 

 breakfast, when ray attention was attracted by an unusual assemblage of ants in the 

 gravel-walk ; the species, I believe, was that of which Huber, in his ' History of Ants,' 

 has given a representation, and is called by him Formica fusca. On a closer exami- 

 nation I found they were fighting; they were collected in groups of forty or fifty, run- 

 ning rapidly about, and then stopping and pulling each other with their mandibles. 

 The field of battle did not extend over a surface of more than 3 ft. square, and there 

 were probably five or six groups all eagerly contending with each other. After watch- 

 ing them with much attention for about half an hour, T was called in to breakfast ; 

 and on returning, after a lapse of twenty minutes, the battle was still raging. How 

 long the conflict lasted I am unable to say ; for when I first saw them they evidently 

 had been some time engaged in their deadly game, and I was compelled to leave them 

 before the battle was over. I however visited the spot again, about one o'clock, and 

 they were then busily employed in removing their slain comrades. I counted about 

 thirty dead ants on the field ; more, probably, had fallen, as doubtless many had been 

 removed before my return. In one small spot, of not more than an inch square, seven 

 dead ants were extended. Their courage is very extraordinary; for in several instan- 

 ces, with such fury and obstinacy had these little warriors contended, that two might 

 be perceived locked in each other's embraces, having died in this their last mortal 

 struggle. We have all read of battles of ants, but as far as my enquiries have extend- 



