82 
ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE, 
of decapitated bodies and severed heads were strewed over the 
ground. 
Another example, which is given in the published paper, is 
quite similar, and had like result. In forty-eight hours the old 
settlers had exterminated the new. The distance between the 
nests was about 20 feet. While the young colonists remained 
in concealment they were not disturbed, but as soon as they 
began to clear away their open disk war was declared. 
MacCook, however, says that 6 these ants are not always 
so jealous of territorial encroachment, or at least must 
have different standards of rights.’ For he observed many 
cases of nests situated within twenty, and even ten feet 
of one another, without a battle ever occurring between 
members of the two communities. Therefore, without 
questioning the accuracy of Lincecum’s observations — 
which, indeed, present no scope for inaccuracy — he adds, 
6 That neighbouring ants, like neighbouring nations of 
civilised men, will fall out and wage war Lincecum’s ex- 
amples show. Perhaps we should be quite as unsuccessful 
in case of these ants as of our human congeners, should 
we seek a sufficient reason for these wars, or satisfactory 
cause for these differences in dealing with neighbours 
which appear from the comparison of Lincecum’s observa- 
tions with mine.’ 
In connection with the wars of these ants, the follow- 
ing quotations may also be made from the same author : — 
The erratic ants do not appear to be held as common ene- 
mies by the agricultural, and they are even permitted to 
establish their formicaries within the limits of the open disk. 
Sometimes, however, the diminutive hillocks which mark the 
entrance to an erratic ant-nest multiply beyond the limit of the 
agricult urals’ forbearance. But they do not declare war, nor 
resort to any personal violence. Nevertheless, they get rid of 
them, oddly enough, by a regular system of vexatious obstruc- 
tions. They suddenly conclude that' there is urgent demand 
for improving their public domain. Forthwith they sally forth 
in large numbers, fall eagerly to work gathering the little black 
balls which are thrown up by the earth-worms in great quantities 
everywhere in the prairie soil, which they bring and heap upon 
the paved disk until all the erratic ant-nests are covered ! The 
entire pavement is thus raised an inch or so, and pains are taken 
