72 PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 
their quarters, and to seek an establishment more out of 
the way of danger. In order to cover their march, many 
small bodies are then posted at a little distance from the 
nest. As soon as the large ants approach the camp, the 
foremost sentinels instantly fly at them with the greatest 
rage, a violent struggle ensues, multitudes of their friends 
come to their assistance, and, though no match for their 
enemies singly, by dint of numbers they prevail, and the 
giant is either slain or led captive to the hostile camp. 
The species whose proceedings M. Huber observed were 
F. herculanea L. and F. sanguinea Latr., neither of which 
have yet been discovered in Britain *, 
But if you would see more numerous armies engaged, 
and survey war in all its forms, you must witness the 
combats of ants of the same species, you must go into 
the woods where the hill-ant of Gould (/. rufa, L.) erects 
its habitations. There you will sometimes behold popu-: 
lous and rival cities, like Rome and Carthage, as if they- 
had vowed each other’s destruction, pouring forth their’ 
myriads by the various roads that, like rays, diverge on 
all sides from their respective metropolises, to decide by. 
an appeal to arms the fate of their little world. As the 
exploits of frogs and mice were the theme of Homer’s. 
muse, so, were I gifted like him, might I celebrate on 
this occasion the exhibition of Myrmidonian valour ; but, 
alas! J am Davus, not CEdipus ; you must therefore rest 
contented, if I do my best in plain prose; and I trust 
you will not complain if, being unable to ascertain the 
name of any one of my heroes, my Myrmidonomachia be 
perfectly anonymous. 
@ Huber, 160. 
