The Red Ants 



known country? I shall do nothing of the 

 kind ; for here, to my knowledge, is a contra- 

 dictory and very significant result. 



Among the treasures of my harmas- 

 laboratory, I place in the first rank an Ant- 

 hill of Polyergus rufescens, the celebrated 

 Red Ant, the slave-hunting Am.azon. Un- 

 able to rear her family, incapable of seeking 

 her food, of taking it even when it is within 

 her reach, she needs servants who feed her 

 and undertake the duties of housekeeping. 

 The Red Ants make a practice of stealing 

 children to wait on the community. They ran- 

 sack the neighbouring Ant-hills,- the home of 

 a different species; they carry away nymphs, 

 which soon attain maturity in the strange 

 house and become willing and industrious 

 servants. 



When the hot weather of June and July 

 sets in, I often see the Amazons leave their 

 barracks of an afternoon and start on an ex- 

 pedition. The column measures five or six 

 yards in length. If nothing worthy of atten- 

 tion be met upon the road, the ranks are fairly 

 well maintained; but, at the first suspicion of 



membranous wings and include the Bees, Wasp«, Ants, 

 Saw-flies and Ichneumon-flies. — Translator's Note. 



133 



