Wars and Slavery in the Animal Kingdom. 53 



fact that those tactics are specifically constant, and are 

 specifically the same throughout the entire territory 

 inhabited by F. sanguinea. 



Dr. Smalian has tried to invalidate this conclusion 

 also. Here is his objection. 1 "It was totally wrong of 

 Wasmann to demand, 2 that the sanguineas should 

 change their tactics, instead of continually attacking 

 in small troops and thus being easily overpowered by 

 large troops of fusca or rufibarbis. This mode of war- 

 fare is inborn, and therefore instinctive, no less than 

 the pillaging habit itself." 



Dr. Smalian is wrong in believing that we had 

 in reality demanded of F. sanguinea to change her 

 hereditary, instinctive stratagems. Our demand was 

 merely the well known method of argumentation ex 

 absurdo, which the critic seems to have misunderstood. 

 In the supposition assumed by Smalian, but rejected 

 by us, that ants besides their instinct possess also a 

 certain degree of genuine intelligence, it is perfectly 

 justifiable to demand that this intelligence should also 

 be manifested and displayed. If their tactics are inborn 

 only as to their outlines, this manifestation ought 

 necessarily to consist in changing them intelligently 

 according to circumstances, and consequently in their 

 gradual perfection. But there is no trace of any such 

 advancement towards perfection, and therefore we are 

 right in concluding: These red marauding ants have 

 only instinct, not intelligence. This mode of argu- 

 mentation cannot seriously be styled "totally wrong." 



Wherever the sanguine slavemakers live, they will 



*) L. c., p. 41. 



2 ) "Die zusammengesetzten Nester," etc., p. 203. 



