112 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



honey or sugar if a grey ant was not there to put it into 

 his mouth. Thus Huber, the earliest accurate observer 

 of these ants, enclosed thirty Amazons with several 

 pupae and larvae of their own species, and twenty 

 negro pupae, in a glass box, the bottom of which was 

 covered with a thick layer of earth ; honey was given 

 to them, so that, although cut off from their auxiliaries, 

 the Amazons had both shelter and food. At first 

 they appeared to pay some little attention to the 

 young ; this soon ceased, and they neither traced out 

 a dwelling nor took any food ; in two days one-half 

 died of hunger, and the other remained weak and lan- 

 guid. Commiserating their condition, he gave them 

 one of their black companions. This little creature, 

 unassisted, formed a chamber in the earth, gathered 

 together the larvae, put everything into complete 

 order, and preserved the lives of those which were 

 about to perish. 



All their industry is expended in the acquisition of 

 captives. The Polyergus avoid introducing into their 

 houses adults who would not become reconciled to 

 the loss of liberty, and would prefer to die rather than 

 work for others. They carry off the larvae of For- 

 mica fusca and Formica cunicularia. When brought 

 into the. ant-hill these larvae are placed in the jaws of 

 slaves of their own species, who care for them ; they 

 are born captives, and have neither the regret nor the 

 idea of a free life. Among the Amazons the slaves 

 undertake every labour ; it is they who build and who 

 care for the larvae of their masters, as well as those 

 carried away in expeditions. They have also com- 

 plicated personal services towards the Polyergus. 

 They bring them food, lick off the dust from their 

 hairs, clean them, carry them from one place to 



