Community Life in the Animal Kingdom. 29 



Dorylide genera Eciton and Anomma. These are the 

 dreaded legionary ants and driver ants of tropical 

 America and Africa. The military expeditions of 

 F. sanguined are generally undertaken in small divi- 

 sions of from twenty to fifty workers, with the purpose 

 not only of robbing the neuter pupae of the slave 

 species (F. fusca and rufibarbis*), but often also of 

 pillaging the nests of smaller ants belonging to the 

 genus Lasius, the larvae, pupae and winged individuals 

 of which are carried off to be devoured. During the 

 time of the nuptial flight of Lasius niger, many son- 

 guinea colonies are hunting in the vicinity of their nest 

 for the heavy Lasius females which drop to the 

 ground. Then either singly or with united forces these 

 robbers pull their victims into their strongholds, 

 where they are mercilessly slaughtered. On the after- 

 noon of August 24., 1888, I witnessed such a typical 

 hunting expedition of several sanginea colonies near 

 Exaten (Holland), on the outskirts of a fir planta- 

 tion. The road passing the nests was covered far and 

 wide with sanguineas rushing upon every Lasius 

 female that dropped from the air, as upon a welcome 

 booty. Within the space of an hour I counted more 

 than one hundred females of Lasius niger that fell 

 victims to the hunters. 



The individual initiative of ants is manifested on 

 such occasions in the same degree as with the higher 

 mammals; whilst concerted action and suitable 

 co-operation reach even greater perfection than with 

 the latter. At any time a troop of our common red- 

 backed hill ants (F. rufa) may be seen on some forest 

 path, with combined forces dragging to their home a 



