78 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



shade. Previously to marching there is reason to tlilnk 

 that tliey send out scouts to explore the vicinity; upon 

 whose return they emerge from their subterranean city, 

 directing- their course to the quarter from which the 

 scouts came. They have various preparatory signals, 

 such as pushing each other with the mandibles or fore- 

 head, or playing with the antennas, the object of which 

 is probably to excite their martial ardour, to give the 

 word for marching, or to indicate the route they are to 

 take. Tlie advanced guard usually consists of eight or 

 ten ants ; but no sooner do these get beyond the rest, 

 than they move back, wheeling round in a semicircle, 

 and mixing with tlie main body, while others succeed 

 to their station. They have " no captabi^ overseer^ or 

 ruler^'" as Solomon observes, their army being com- 

 posed entirely of neuters, without a single female : thus 

 all in their turns take their place at the head, and then 

 retreating towards the rear, make room for others. 

 This is tlie usual order of their march ; and the object 

 of it may be to communicate intelligence more readily 

 from one part of the column to another. 



When winding through the grass of a meadow they 

 have proceeded to thirty feet or more from their own ha- 

 bitation, they disperse ; and, like dogs with their noses, 

 explore the ground with their antennae to detect the 

 traces of the game they are pursuing. The negro 

 formicary, the object of their search, is soon disco- 

 vered; some of the inhabitants are usually keeping 

 guard at the avenues, which dart upon the foremost of 

 their assailants with inconceivable fury. The alarm in- 

 creasing, crowds of its swarthy inhabitants rush forth 

 from every apartment; but their valour is exerted in 



