PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



59 



The wars of ants that are not of the same species take 

 place usually between those that differ in size ; and the great 

 endeavouring to oppress the small are nevertheless often out- 

 numbered by them, and defeated. Their battles have long 

 been celebrated ; and the date of them, as if it were an event 

 of the first importance, has been formally recorded. JEneas 

 Sylvius, after giving a very circumstantial account of one 

 contested with great obstinacy by a great and small species 

 on the trunk of a pear tree, gravely states, " This action was 

 fought in the pontificate of Eugenius IV., in the presence of 

 Nicholas Pistoriensis, an eminent lawyer, who related the 

 whole history of the battle with the greatest fidelity ! " A 

 similar engagement between great and small ants is recorded 

 by Olaus Magnus, in which the small ones being victorious 

 are said to have buried the bodies of their own soldiers, but 

 left those of their giant enemies a prey to the birds. This 

 event happened previous to the expulsion of the tyrant 

 Christiern II. from Sweden. 1 



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 com- 

 panions, 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 fore- 

 most 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 pro- 

 ceedings M. Huber observed were F. herculanea and F. san- 

 guined, neither of which have yet been discovered in Britain. 2 



1 Mouffet, Theatr. Ins. 242. 2 Huber, 160. 



