MILITARY ANTS. 
115 
branching off in various directions, and searching about 
with the utmost activity for insects, grubs, &c., over every 
log, under every fallen leaf, and in every nook and cranny 
where there is any chance of finding prey. When their 
errand is completed, they return into the main column. 
If the prey found is sufficiently small for the scouts them- 
selves to manage, it is immediately seized, and carried 
back to the main column ; but if the amount is too large 
for the scouts to deal with alone, messengers are sent hack 
to the main column, whence there is immediately dis- 
patched a detachment large enough to cope with the re- 
quirements. Insects which when killed are too large for 
single ants to carry, are torn in pieces, and the pieces 
conveyed back to the main army by different individuals. 
Many insects in trying to escape run up bushes and shrubs, 
where they are pursued from branch to branch and twig 
to twig by their remorseless enemies, until on arriving at 
some terminal ramification they must either submit to 
immediate capture by their pursuers, or drop down amid 
the murderous hosts beneath. As already stated, all the 
spoils that are taken by the scouts or by the detachments 
sent out in answer to their demands for assistance, are 
immediately taken back to the main column. When they 
arrive there, they are taken to the rear of that column by 
two smaller columns of carriers, which are constantly 
running, one on either side of the main column, with the 
supplies that are constantly pouring in from both sides. 
Each of these outside columns is a double line, the ants 
composing one of the two lines all running in the same 
direction as the main army, and the ants composing the 
other line all running in the opposite direction. The 
former are empty-handed carriers, which having deposited 
their burdens in the rear, are again advancing to the 
van for fresh burdens. Those composing the other line 
are all laden with the mangled remains of insects, pupae 
of other ants, &c. On either side of the main column 
there are also constantly running up and down a few in- 
dividuals of smaller size and lighter colour than the other 
ants, which seem to play the part of officers ; for they 
never leave their stations, and while running up and 
