PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 73 



of my heroes, my Mi/rmidonomachia be perfectly ano- 

 nymous. 



Figure to yourself two of these cities equal in size 

 and population, and situated about a hundred paces 

 from each other ; observe their countless numbers, 

 equal to the population of two mighty empires. The 

 whole space which separates them for the breadth of 

 twenty-four inches appears alive with prodigious crowds 

 of their inhabitants. The armies meet midway be- 

 tween their respective habitations, and there join bat- 

 tle. Thousands of champions, mounted on more ele- 

 vated spots, engage in single combat, and seize each 

 other with their powerful jaws ; a still greater num- 

 ber are engaged on both sides in taking prisoners, 

 which make vain efforts to escape, conscious of the 

 cruel fate which awaits them when arrived at the hostile 

 formicary. The spot where the battle most rages is 

 about two or three square feet in dimensions : a pene- 

 trating odour exhales on all sides, — numbers of ants 

 are here lying- dead covered with venom, — others, com- 

 posing groups and chains, are hooked together by their 

 legs or jaws, and drag each other alternately in con- 

 trary directions. These groups are formed gradually. 

 At first a pair of combatants seize each other, and rear- 

 ing upon their hind-legs mutually spirt tlieir acid, then 

 closing they fall and wrestle in the dust. Again re- 

 covering their feet, each endeavours to drag off his an- 

 tagonist. If their strength be equal, they remain im- 

 moveable, till the arrival of a third gives one the ad- 

 vantage. Both, however, are often succoured at the 

 .same time, and the battle still continues undecided — 

 others take part on each side, till chains are formed of 



