sand--a major--did
not meet with so kindly a reception. She still remained on the leaf
trying to cleanse herself. All the ants had left her save one, who was
determined to quarrel with her. I removed this one, and now another came
up, bit at her and annoyed her until I removed this one also. Then some
half dozen congregated about the leaf, touching her with their antennae
and walking round her. By this time she was nearly free from the sand,
and was looking quite bright, strutting about the leaf in a threatening
attitude, with her mandibles wide apart. She was not attacked by these
last inspectors, though still looked upon a little suspiciously. I then
returned the two quarrelsome ants: they immediately walked up to their
unfortunate comrade, and now seemed to be satisfied that she was a
respectable ant, and admitted her into the community with no further
challenging.

[Illustration:

1. WORKER MAJOR.
2. OUTLINE OF HEAD OF WORKER MAJOR.
3. OUTLINE OF BODY OF WORKER MINOR.]

I found a nest of large carpenter-ants (_Camponotus atriceps_, var.
_esuriens_, Smith) which had made their home in fallen timber. Upon
examining their work, it was evident they must have strong tools to work
with, for the numerous rooms and chambers of their domicile were often
made in firm, hard wood. They are the largest, most vicious species I
have ever seen. I introduced one of these terrible creatures into the
jar among the quiet, peaceful occupants. A large worker major
immediately closed with her: it was so quickly done that I could not
tell which was the attacking party. They rolled about a few moments in a
close embrace, till they rolled out of sight through the wide entrance
to one of the rooms below. There was considerable excitement and
increased activity among the workers, who were constantly bringing to
the surface bits of earth which the struggling warriors had loosened. In
about an hour the head of the carpenter was brought out, divested of
every member: both the antennae and palpi were gone, cut close to the
head. A little later the abdomen was brought out, and still later the
thorax with not an entire leg left.

[Illustration: QUEEN: SIDE-VIEW, SHOWING PECULIAR CONFORMATION OF THE
THORAX.]

Several times during the months of January and February I introduced
into the jar a number of half-grown larvae of the harvester. Without any
hesitation they were quickly carried to the rooms below by the workers
minor. On the 4th of Feb