PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 327 
M. P. Huber is the only modern author that appears to have been witness 
to these combats. He tells us that, when the great attack the small, they 
seek to take them by surprise (probably to avoid their fastening themselves 
to their legs), and seizing upon them by the upper part of the body, 
they strangle them with their mandibles; but when the small have time 
to foresee the attack, they give notice to their companions, who rush in 
crowds to their succour. Sometimes, however, after suffering a signal 
defeat, the smaller species are obliged to shift 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 in- 
stantly fly at them with the greatest rage ; a violent struggle ensues ; mul- 
titudes 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 pro- 
ceedings M. Huber observed were F’. herculanea and F. sanguinea, 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 (F. rufa) erects 
its habitations. There you will sometimes behold populous and rival 
cities, like Rome and Carthage, as if they had vowed each other’s destruc- 
tion, 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 
Icelebrate on this occasion the exhibition of Myrmidonian valour ; but, 
alas! I am Davus, not GEdipus ; you must, therefore, rest contented, if 1 
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. 
Figure to yourself two of these cities equal in size and population, and 
situated about a hundred paces from each other ; observe their count- 
less numbers, equal to the population of two mighty empires. The whole 
space which separates them for the breadth of twenty-four inches ap- 
pears alive with prodigious crowds of their inhabitants. The armies 
meet midway between their respective habitations, and there join battle. 
Thousands of champions, mounted on more elevated spots, engage in single 
combat, and seize each other with their powerful Jaws ; a still greater 
number are engaged on both sides in taking prisoners, which make vain 
efforts to escape, as if conscious of the cruel fate which awaits them when 
arrived at the hostile formicary. The spot where the battle most rages 
1s about two or three square feet in dimensions : a penetrating odour ex- 
hales on all sides, —numbers of ants are here lying dead covered with 
venom, — others, composing groups and chains, are hooked together by 
their legs or jaws, and drag each other alternately in contrary directions, 
hese 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 recovering their 
feet, each endeavours to drag off his antagonist, If their strength be 
1 Huber, 160, 
x4 
