WARS OF ANTS. 185 
I know but one species of middle size ; 
but it is very rare and only inhabits the 
Alps. 
The wars entered into by ants of dif- 
ferent size bear no resemblance to those 
in which ants engage who come to com- 
bat with an equal force. When the large 
attack the small, they appear to do it by 
surprise, most likely to prevent the latter 
from fastening upon their legs; they 
seize them in the upper part of the body 
and strangle them immediately between 
their pincers. But when the small ants 
have time to guard against an attack, 
they intimate to their companions the 
danger with which they are threatened, 
when the latter arrive in crowds to their 
assistance. I have witessed a battle be- 
tween the Herculean and the Sanguine 
Ants; the Herculean Ants quitted the 
trunk of the tree in which they had es- 
tablished their abode, and arrived to the 
very gates of the dwelling of the Sanguine 
Ants; the latter, only half the size of 
their adversaries, had the advantage in 
