PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 87 



species*, they take upon themselves the whole charge of 

 the nascent colony. I must not here omit a most extra- 

 ordinary anecdote related by M. Huber. He put into 

 one of his artificial formicaries pupae of both species of 

 the slave-collecting ants, which, under the care of some 

 negroes introduced with them, arrived at their imago 

 state, and lived together under the same roof in the most 

 perfect amity. 



These facts show what effects education will produce 

 even upon insects; that it will impart to them a new bias, 

 and modify in some respects their usual instincts, ren- 

 dering them familiar with objects which, had they been 

 educated at home, they would have feared, and causing 

 them to love those whom in that case they would have 

 abhorred. — It occasions, however, no further change in 

 their character, since the master and slave, brought up 

 with the same care and under the same superintendence, 

 are associated in the mixed formicary under laws en- 

 tirely opposite''. 



Unparalleled and unique in the animal kingdom as 

 this history may appear, you will scarcely deem the next 

 I have to relate less singular and less worthy of admira- 

 tion. That ants should have their milch cattle is as ex- 

 traordinary as that they should have slaves- Here, per- 

 haps, you may again feel a fit of incredulity shake you ; 

 — but the evidence for the fact I am now stating being 

 abundant and satisfactory, I flatter myself it will not 

 shake you long. 



The loves of the ants and the aphides (for these last 

 are the kine in question) have long been celebrated; 



" Vol, I. :?70. '" Sec i Iiibcr, chixp. vii— xi. 



