WARRIOR ANTS, AND THEIR EQUIPMENT 



ment. In a Texas species, A tta fervens, the duties of 

 these soldiers appear to have been specialized until they 

 are as distinct as are their forms. This species is the 

 well-known cutting or parasol ant of Texas, whose de- 

 foliation of .trees, for the enrichment of their cavernous 

 "mushroom gardens," makes them a decided pest to 

 farmers. In my studies of their habits it was noted 

 that during their foraging excursions the vast columns 

 of leaf-cutters and carriers were marshalled by the big- 

 headed soldiers. Both on the raid and on the return 

 they accompanied the marching ranks, appearing to take 

 no part in the actual work of the expedition, but moving 

 back and forth along the flanks, after the fashion of 

 scouts and pioneers, or of an official guard and escort. 

 [McC. 10, p. 36.] 



Other examples might be cited, 1 but the above suf- 

 ficiently illustrate the fact that in the military govern- 

 ment of ant communes we meet with a feature analogous 

 to that well-known characteristic of human societies: 

 the differentiation of the functions of police and defence 

 into a special class, or caste, known as soldiers and 

 sailors. 



How far in tnis natural arrangement the industrial 

 element among the ant citizens is dominated bv the 



v 



soldiers is not known- -at least, to the present writer. 

 Within certain lines as, for example, submission to their 

 soldier escort by the leaf-cutters of Atta fervens they 

 permit the exercise of legitimate authority. But they 

 seem able to control the situation when so inclined. 

 Professor Wheeler has seen the workers of Camponotus 

 ferrugineus kill and dismember their soldiers in a case 



1 A remarkable case is that of Poh r ergus, which is referred to in 

 chap, xiv "The Founding of Slave-Making Ant Communes." 



205 



