324 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. X, 



the paths were full of ants going to and fro, on the 

 ordinary business of the society, as in a time of peace ; 

 and the whole formicary exhibited an appearance of 

 order and tranquillity except that, on the quarter 

 leading to the field of battle, crowds might always be 

 seen, either marching to reinforce the army of their 

 compatriots, or returning home with the prisoners they 

 had taken, which, it is to be feared, are the devoted 

 victims to a cannibal feast."* 



(328.) The wars of ants belonging to different 

 species, according to M. Huber, generally take place 

 between combatants of unequal size. When the great 

 attack the small, as in the case of formica herculanea 

 and sanguined, witnessed by M. Huber, they seek to 

 take them by surprise (probably to avoid their fastening 

 themselves to their legs) ; and, seizing them by the 

 upper part of their body, they strangle them with their 

 jaws : but when the small have time to foresee the 

 attack, they give notice to their companions, who rush 

 in crowds to their succour. Sometimes, however, after 

 suffering a signal defeat, the smaller species are obliged 

 to shift their quarters, and to seek an establishment 

 more out of the way of danger. In order to cover 

 their march, many small bodies are then posted at a 

 little distance from the nest. As soon as the large ants 

 approach the camp, the advanced sentinels instantly 

 dart upon them in the greatest rage ; a violent struggle 

 ensues j multitudes of their friends come to their assist- 

 ance, and, though no match for their enemies singly, 

 they prevail by force of numbers, and the assailants 

 are either slain, or led captives to the victors' camp. 



(329-) There is still another kind of warfare carried 

 on by the slave-making ants, a tribe which, however 

 incredible it may appear, is known to make war upon 

 others for the sole purpose of procuring slaves, who 

 literally and truly labour for them, and perform all the 

 daily domestic duties of the community. Nay, more, 

 to heighten the wonder, most of these slave-dealers are 



* Int. to Ent. voL ii p. 73. 



