Ants. 33 



and exceptional phenomenon; but with an allied 

 species, F. sanguined, a species which exists in some 

 of our southern counties and throughout Europe, it 

 has become an established habit. The F. sanguinea 

 make periodical expeditions, attack neighbouring 

 nests, carrying off the larvae and pupae, selecting 

 those which will produce workers. When the latter 

 come to maturity they find themselves in a nest 

 consisting partly of F. sanguinea, partly of their 

 own species, the results of previous expeditions. 

 They adapt themselves to circumstances, assist in 

 the ordinary household duties, and, having no 

 young of their own species, feed and tend those of 

 the F. sanguinea. But though the F. sanguinea 

 are thus aided by their slaves, or as they should 

 rather perhaps be called, by their auxiliaries, they 

 have not themselves lost the instinct of working. 

 It seems not improbable that there is some divi- 

 sion of functions between the two species, but we 

 have as yet no distinct knowledge on this point ; 

 and at any rate the F. sanguinea can " do " for 

 themselves and carry on a nest, if necessary, with- 

 out slaves. 



4. Another species, the Amazon Ant (Polyergus 

 rufescens, fig. i), is much more dependent on its 

 slaves, being, indeed, almost entirely so. 



For the knowledge of the existence of slavery 

 among ants we are indebted to Huber, and I can- 

 not resist quoting the passage in which he records 

 his discovery : 



