ANT. 45<) 



between individuals who prey upon one another. But the mode* 

 of warfare pursued by ants is of a totally different character. 

 Their aggressions are made by large armies ; and their battles are 

 general engagements between contending nations. The wars they 

 wage are always open and direct, and exhibit none of the arts of 

 deceit ; their operations are conducted on a scale of magnitude 

 that is astonishing. The labourers and the females are the only 

 ants that engage in these conflicts. Some species are provided 

 with stings ; others employ their jaws in the infliction of wounds, 

 and apply to the bitten part a drop of acid fluid, which is se- 

 creted for this purpose. Their combined attacks upon various 

 insects, even of considerable size, are well known. In hot cli- 

 mates they extend their hostilities to the smaller quadrupeds, such 

 as rats ; and, in some countries, become formidable even to man. 

 But the greatest enemy to the ant is the ant itself. The lesser are 

 frequently enabled, by their courage as well as by superior num- 

 bers, to overpower the stronger species ; and jealousies often 

 spring up between rival states belonging to the same species. Each 

 has its peculiar system of tactics, which is varied according to the 

 enemy to whom they are opposed. The fury and desperation with 

 which they fight is inconceivable. When an ant has fastened upon 

 bis adversary, it will suffer its limbs to be torn, one by one, 

 from its body, rather than let go its hold ; and they are frequently 

 seen to carry about with them, as trophies of their victories, the 

 mangled portions of those they have subdued. The theatres of the 

 most extended engagements are the forests inhabited by the fallow 

 ants. 



There is one species of large ants which M. Huber denomi- 

 nates Amazones, who inhabit the same nests with an inferior spe- 

 cies, namely, the dark ash-coloured ant, ( noir cendreej, and 

 whom we may call their auxiliaries. As soon as the heat of sum- 

 mer has set in, the amazons muster their forces ; and, leaving the 

 auxiliaries to take care of the nest, march out in regular order, 

 sometimes dividing their forces into two expeditions, but generally 

 proceeding in one united army to the point of attack, which is 

 always a nest belonging to ants of the same species as the auxilia- 

 ries with whom they live. These resist the aggression with great 

 courage ; but are soon compelled to fly from the superior force of 

 the invaders, who enter at the breach they have made, and pro- 



