390 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



sometimes in those ships which are used in the slave trade, and on 

 which the slaves are often found in greater numbers than the sailors 

 composing the crew. The phalanx of ants reduced to a state ot 

 slavery pay all sorts of attentions to their masters. They lick them, 

 brush them, caress them, carry them on their backs, feed them good 



Fig. 368. Russet Ants (PolyergHS rufescens). 



and faithful servants that they are and even rear their progeny. 

 The masters impose on their slaves all sorts of work. They only 

 reserve for themselves the making of war. From time to time they 

 undertake expeditions against some neighbouring ants' nest. If they 

 are conquered and come back without bringing with them any 

 prisoners, the slaves or auxiliaries are sulky to them, and will not 



Fig. 369. Blood-red Ant (Formica sanguinea). 



allow them for some time to enter the nest. If, on the contrary, 

 they return loaded with booty, they flatter them, give them food, 

 and relieve them of their prisoners, which they lead away into the 

 interior of the fortress. The warlike tribes, however, never carry off 

 any other but the larvae and nymphs of workers from the ant-hills 

 they plunder. These young captives get used to their kidnappers : 

 brought up in fear of their masters, they never think of abandoning 

 them. 



Two species constitute the warrior tribes which form societies 

 mixed with the species they reduce to slavery. They are the Russet 

 Ant (Fig. 368) and the Blood-red Ant (Fig. 369). They always 

 attack the nests of the Ashy-black (Formica fused) and the Miners. 



