PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 73 
Figure to yourself two of these cities equal in size and 
population, and situated about a hundred paces from 
each other; observe their countless numbers, equal to 
the population of two mighty empires. The whole space 
which separates them for the breadth of twenty-four 
inches appears alive with prodigious crowds of their in- 
habitants. The armies meet midway between their re- 
spective habitations, and there join battle. Thousands 
of champions, mounted on more elevated spots, engage 
in single combat, and seize each other with their power- 
ful jaws; a still greater number are engaged on both 
sides in taking prisoners, which make vain efforts to es- 
cape, conscious of the cruel fate which awaits them when 
arrived at the hostile formicary. ‘The spot where the 
battle most rages is about two or three square feet in di- 
mensions: a penetrating odour exhales on all sides,— 
numbers of ants are here lying dead covered with ve- 
nom,—others, composing groups and chains, are hooked 
together by their legs or jaws, and drag each other alter- 
nately in contrary directions. ‘These groups are formed 
gradually. At first a pair of combatants seize each other, 
and rearing upon their hind-legs mutually spirt their acid, 
then closing they fall and wrestle in the dust. Again re- 
covering their feet, each endeavours to drag off his an- 
tagonist. If their strength be equal, they remain im- 
moveable, till the arrival of a third gives one the advan- 
tage. Both, however, are often succoured at the same 
time, and the battle still continues undecided—others 
take part on each side, till chains are formed of six, 
eight, or sometimes ten, all hooked together and strug- 
gling pertinaciously for the mastery: the equilibrium 
remains unbroken, till a number of champions from the 
