66 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



When, from their proximity, they are more readily to be 

 come at than those of the negroes, they sometimes assault 

 with the same view the nest of another species of ant, which 

 I shall call the miners (F. cunicularia). 



This species being more courageous than the other, on this 

 account the rufescent host marches to the attack in closer 

 order than usual, moving with astonishing rapidity. As soon 

 as they begin to enter their habitation, myriads of the miners 

 rushing out fall upon them with great fury ; while others, 

 well aware of their purpose, making a passage through the 

 midst of them, carry off in their mouth the larvae and pupae. 

 The surface of the nest thus becomes the scene of an obstinate 

 conflict, and the assailants are often deprived of the prey 

 which they had seized. The miners dart upon them, fight 

 them foot to foot, dispute every inch of their territory, and 

 defend their progeny with unexampled courage and rage. 

 When the rufescents, laden with pillage, retire, they do it in 

 close order — a precaution highly necessary, since their valiant 

 enemies, pursuing them, impede their progress for a consider- 

 able distance from their residence. 



During these combats the pillaged ant-hill presents in 

 miniature the spectacle of a besieged city ; hundreds of its 

 inhabitants may be seen making their escape, and carrying off 

 in different directions, to a place of security, some the young 

 brood, and others their females that are newly excluded: 

 but when the danger is wholly passed, they bring them back 

 to their city, the gates of which they barricade, and remain in 

 great numbers near them to guard the entrance. 



Formica sanguinea, as I observed above, is another of the 

 slave-making ants ; and its proceedings merit separate notice, 

 since they differ considerably from those of the rufescents. 

 They construct their nests under hedges of a southern aspect, 

 and likewise attack the hills both of the negroes and miners. 

 On the 15th of July, at ten in the morning, Huber observed 

 a small band of these ants sallying forth from their formicary, 

 and marching rapidly to a neighbouring nest of negroes, 

 around which it dispersed. The inhabitants, rushing out in 

 crowds, attacked them and took several prisoners : those that 

 escaped advanced no further, but appeared to wait for sue- 



