PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



61 



able till the arrival of a third gives one the advantage. 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 struggling pertinaciously for the mastery : the 

 equilibrium remains unbroken, till a number of champions 

 from the same nest arriving at once compel them to let go 

 their hold, and the single combats recommence. At the ap- 

 proach of night, each party gradually retreats to its own city ; 

 but before the following dawn the combat is renewed with 

 redoubled fury, and occupies a greater extent of ground. 

 These daily fights continue till violent rains separating the 

 combatants, they forget their quarrel, and peace is restored. 



Such is the account given by M. Huber of a battle he wit- 

 nessed. In these engagements, he observes, their fury is so 

 wrought up, that nothing can divert them from their purpose. 

 Though he was close to them examining their proceedings, 

 they paid not the least attention to him, being absorbed by 

 one sole object, that of finding an enemy to attack. What is 

 most wonderful in this history, — though all are of the same 

 make, colour, and scent, every ant seemed to know those of 

 his own party ; and if by mistake one was attacked, it was 

 immediately discovered by the assailant, and caresses suc- 

 ceeded to blows. Though all was fury and carnage in the 

 space between the two nests, on the other side the paths were 

 full of ants going to and fro on the ordinary business of the 

 society, as in a time of peace ; and the whole formicary ex- 

 hibited an appearance of order and tranquillity, except that 

 on the quarter leading to the field of battle crowds might al- 

 ways be seen, either marching to reinforce the army of their 

 compatriots, or returning home with the prisoners they had 

 taken 1 , which it is to be feared are the devoted victims of 

 a cannibal feast. 



Having, I apprehend, satiated you with the fury and car- 

 nage of Myrmidonian wars, I shall next bring forward a scene 

 still more astonishing, which at first, perhaps, you will be dis- 

 posed to regard as the mere illusion of a lively imagination. 



1 See Huber, chap. v. 



