STRONGYLOGNATHUS AND ANERGATES. 89 



comparatively recently taken to slave-making, has not as 

 yet been materially affected. 



Polyergus, on the contrary, already illustrates the 

 lowering tendency of slavery. They have lost their 

 knowledge of art, their natural affection for their 

 young, and even their instinct of feeding ! They are, 

 however, bold and powerful marauders. 



In Strongylognathus, the enervating influence of 

 slavery has gone further, and told even on the bodily 

 strength. They are no longer able to capture their 

 slaves in fair and open warfare. Still they retain a 

 semblance of authority, and, when roused, will fight 

 bravely, though in vain. 



In Anergates, finally, we come to the last scene of 

 this sad history. We may safely conclude that in 

 distant times their ancestors lived, as so many ants 

 do now, partly by hunting, partly on honey ; that by 

 degrees they became bold marauders, and gradually took 

 to keeping slaves ; that for a time they maintained 

 their strength and agility, though losing by degrees 

 their real independence, their arts, and even many of 

 their instincts ; that gradually even their bodily force 

 dwindled away under the enervating influence to 

 which they had subjected themselves, until they sank 

 to their present degraded condition — weak in body and 

 mind, few in numbers, and apparently nearly extinct, 

 the miserable representatives of far superior ancestors, 

 maintaining a precarious existence as contemptible 

 parasites of their former slaves. 



