CHAP. X. SLAVE-MAKING ANTS IN BRAZIL. 338 



(335.) Regarding the slave-making ants of Tropical 

 America, we can, fortunately, communicate a few ori- 

 ginal notices, which, however imperfect, after those we 

 have detailed, will be so far interesting, since it does 

 not appear that any author has made known the exist- 

 ance of these extraordinary insects in the New World ; 

 and because the sequel will show that, however widely 

 the geographic distribution of these races extend, their 

 general habits remain the same. We must premise, 

 however, that the species found in Brazil are totally 

 different from those of Europe : and it is very probable, 

 when the natural affinities of the family have been 

 worked out, that these slave-making ants will form a 

 distinct and natural group. The reader, perhaps, will 

 be better pleased by a simple extract from our journals, 

 written at the time, than by a more elaborated state- 

 ment. He will perceive that we were not then ac- 

 quainted with the true nature of the conflict described. 

 The admirable volumes of Messrs. Kirby and Spence had 

 not then been published ; and the foreign works of 

 Huber and Latreille, seventeen years ago, were little 

 known in this country. A traveller, moreover, engaged 

 in exploring wild and uncivilised regions, has no means 

 of carrying or consulting books. But to our narrative. 

 "Agoa Fria, Pernambuco, June 8. 1817- This 

 morning I was suddenly called by one of my Indians 

 to see a large troop of ants, which were marching in a 

 narrow but compact column towards the steps of the 

 outhouse, where they immediately went into some little 

 holes in the earth, these being the obvious entrances 

 to another nest. For some little time they continued 

 pouring in their troops into these open gates of their 

 enemies' city, which they seemed to have taken by sur- 

 prise, for none of its inhabitants were to be seen outside. 

 Presently, however, the invading party again emerged, 

 and soon the whole column began to make a precipitate 

 retreat. There must, consequently, have been a severe 

 battle in the interior of the nest ; for now the besieged 

 ants showed themselves for the first time, coming out 



