144 
IX. CHRISTMAS, 1915 
which the ordinary traveller ants are carrying the 
young ones with them. In forming the palisade the 
warriors turn their backs to the procession — like the 
Cossacks when protecting the Czar — and in that 
position they remain for hours at a time. 
As a rule there are three or four columns marching 
abreast of each other, but independently, from five to 
fifty yards apart. All at once they break up the 
column and disperse, though how the word of command 
is given we do not yet know. Anyhow, in the twinkling 
of an eye a huge area is covered with a quivering, black 
mass, and every living thing upon it is doomed. Even 
the great spiders in the trees cannot escape, for these 
terrible ravagers creep after them in crowds up to the 
very highest twigs ; and if the spiders, in despair, jump 
from the trees, they fall victims to the ants on the 
ground. It is a horrible sight. The militarism of the 
forest will very nearly bear comparison with that of 
Europe ! 
Our house lies on one of the main routes of the 
traveller ants, which swarm mostly during the night. 
A peculiar scratching and clucking of the fowls gives 
us warning of the danger, and then there is no time to 
be lost. I jump out of bed, run to the fowl-house, and 
open the door, through which the birds rush out. 
Shut in, they would inevitably be the prey of the ants, 
which creep into their mouths and nostrils until they 
are suffocated, and then devour them, so that in a 
short time nothing is left but their white bones. The 
chickens usually fall victims to the robbers ; the fowls 
can defend themselves till help comes. 
Meanwhile my wife has taken the bugle from the 
wall and blown it three times, which is the signal for 
