PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 363 



on all sides, — numbers of ants are here lying dead covered with venom, — 

 others, composing groups and chains, are hooked together by their legs 

 or jaws, and drag each other alternately in contrary directions. These 

 groups are formed gradually. At first a pair of combatants seize each 

 other, and rearing upon their hind legs mutually spirt their acid ; then 

 closing, they fall and wrestle in the dust. Again recovering their feet, 

 each endeavors to drag off his antagonist. If their strength be equal, 

 they remain immovable till the arrival of a third gives one tlie advantage. 

 Both, however, are often succored at the same time, and the battle still 

 continues undecided ; others take part on each side, till chains are formed 

 of six, eight, or sometimes ten, all hooked together, and struggling perti- 

 naciously for the mastery : the equilibrium remains unbroken, till a number 

 of champions from the same nest arriving at once compel them to let go 

 their hold, and the single combats recommence. At the approach of 

 night, each party gradually retreats to its own city ; but before the follow- 

 ing dawn the combat is renewed with redoubled fury, and occupies a 

 greater extent of ground. These daily fights continue till violent rains 

 separating the combatants, they forget their quarrel, and peace is restored. 



Such is the account given by M. Huber of a battle he witnessed. In 

 these engagements, he observes, their fury is so wrought up, that nothing 

 can divert them from their purpose. Though he was close to them 

 examining their proceedings, they paid not the least attention to him, being 

 absorbed by one sole object, that of finding an enemy to attack. What is 

 most wonderful in this history, — though all are of the same make, color, 

 and scent, every ant seemed to know those of his own party ; and if by 

 mistake one was attacked, it was immediately discovered by the assailant, 

 and caresses succeeded to blows. Though all was fury and carnage 

 in the space between the two nests, on the other side the paths were 

 full of ants going to and fro on the ordinary business of the society, as 

 in a time of peace ; and the whole formicary exhibited an appearance of 

 order and tranquility, except that on the quarter leading to the field of 

 battle crowds might always be seen, either marching to reinforce the 

 army of their compatriots, or returning home with the prisoners they 

 had taken', which it is to be feared are the devoted victims of a cannibal 

 feast. 



Having, I apprehend, satiated you with the fury and carnage of Myr- 

 midonian wars, I shall next bring forward a scene still more astonishing, 

 which at first, perhaps, you will be disposed to regard as the mere illusion 

 of a lively imagination. What will you say when I tell you that certain 

 ants are affirmed to sally forth from their nests on predatory expeditions, 

 for the singular purpose of procuring slaves to employ in their domestic 

 business ; and that these ants are usually a ruddy race, while their slaves 

 themselves are black ? I think I see you here throw down my letter and 

 exclaim — " What ! ants turned slave-dealers ! This is a fact so extraor- 

 dinary and improbable, and so out of the usual course of nature, that 

 nothing but the most powerful and convincing evidence shall induce me to 

 believe it." In this I perfectly approve your caution ; such a solecism in 

 nature ought not to be believed till it has undergone the ordeal of a most 

 thorough investigation. Unfortunately in this country we have not the 



* See Huber, chap. v. 



