60 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



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 metropo- 

 lises, 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 ! I 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. 



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 popula- 

 tion of two mighty empires. The whole space which separates 

 them for the breadth of twenty-four inches appears 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 ar- 

 rived at the hostile formicary. The spot where the battle 

 most rages is about two or three square feet in dimensions : 

 a penetrating odour exhales 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. 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 recovering their feet, each endeavours to drag off his 

 antagonist. If their strength be equal, they remain immove- 



