146 CONVERSATIONS ON 



legionary ants ; and probably would laugh at 

 the whole account as an idle story ; and yet 

 it is all true, and those who have read and 

 seen, know it to be true ; and they know, too, 

 that to deny it shows nothing but ignorance. 

 However, I always let such persons alone. I 

 can do them no good ; for they are apt to be 

 very conceited, and will not be convinced. 

 And now for the legionary ant. This is a 

 fighting ant, as well as the last I mentioned ; 

 and it actually steals the young of another 

 kind, rears them, and puts all the work on 

 them, so as to be idle itself. This curious 

 fact was first found out by Mr. Huber ; an- 

 other gentleman, named Latreille, afterward 

 saw the same thing ; and now a great many 

 naturalists know it, because, they have sought 

 for and seen it. The ant which it steals is 

 of a dark ash colour ; the legionary is of 

 light colour. The dark-coloured ant is 

 now called the negro ant, and is a very in- 

 dustrious, peaceable insect, without any sting. 

 The legionary is a strong, brave ant, with a 

 sting, but very lazy. I shall relate to you 

 the account which Mr. Huber gives of the 

 legionary. He was walking near the city of 

 Geneva during an afternoon in the summer 



