164 THE UNIVERSE. 



ing their blood at the same time. Hence in Columbia, 

 where these disagreeable guests are common enough, they 

 are called chicken-sj) icier s. 



CHAPTER V. 



SLAVE-MAKERS AND WARLIKE TRIBES. 



When we search into the history of insects we are sur- 

 prised at finding such violent passions in such fragile crea- 

 tures : hatred animates them ; thirst for booty directs 

 them. To gratify these evil propensities they fight bloody 

 battles, and become transformed into land pirates. 



Man leads to the battle-field a ponderous troop of ani- 

 mals, insects go single-handed. The 6000 elephants which 

 Porus opposed to the triumphal march of Alexander went 

 forth to fight only when guided by experienced drivers; 

 whilst ants, left to their own resources, fight great battles, 

 and, incredible as it may seem, display a great deal of 

 strategy. 



The slave-making instinct is strongly developed in this 

 group. A race of zealous servants is indispensable to their 

 existence, and, in order to procure them, they act like vil- 

 lainous slave-stealers. 



Observers had for a lono; time remarked that certain ants 

 carry others in their mouths during their peregrinations, 

 but they could not make out for what purpose. It was 

 Pierre Huber who discovered the mystery. These move- 

 ments are so many raids, which the insects carry out in the 



