Quote by Henry David Thoreau

One day when I went out to my wood-pile, or rather my pile of stumps, I observed two large ants, the one red, the other much larger, nearly half an inch long, and black, fiercely contending with one another. Having once got hold they never let go, but struggled and wrestled and rolled on the chips incessantly. Looking farther, I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants, that it was not a duellum, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and frequently two red ones to one black. The legions of these Myrmidons covered all the hills and vales in my wood-yard, and the ground was already strewn with the dead and dying, both red and black. It was the only battle which I have ever witnessed, the only battle-field I ever trod while the battle was raging; internecine war; the red republicans on the one hand, and the black imperialists on the other. On every side they were engaged in deadly combat, yet without any noise that I could hear, and human soldiers never fought so resolutely.

Summary

This quote describes the intense battle between two different species of ants: the red ants and the black ants. The author observes them fighting fiercely and relentlessly, not letting go once they have each other in their grasp. The ground is covered with both dead and dying ants, indicating the extent of the conflict. The author draws parallels to human warfare, noting the resolute nature of the ant soldiers. Despite the intensity of the battle, there is a surprising absence of noise, highlighting the silent and ferocious nature of the ants' struggle.