70 



PERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 



developed ; and preserved the life of the neuter rufescents that 

 still survived. What a picture of beneficent industry, con- 

 trasted with the baleful effects of sloth, does this interesting 

 anecdote afford ! Another experiment which he tried made 

 the contrast equally striking. He put a large portion of one 

 of these mixed colonies into a woollen bag, in the mouth of 

 which he fixed a small tube of wood, glazed at the top, which 

 at the other end was fitted to the entrance of a kind of hive. 

 The second day the tube was crowded with negroes going and 

 returning: — the indefatigable diligence and activity manifested 

 by them in transporting the young brood and their refuscent 

 masters, whose bodies were suspended upon their mandibles, 

 was astonishing. These last took no active part in the busy 

 scene, while their slaves showed the greatest anxiety about 

 them, generally carrying them into the hive ; and if they some- 

 times contented themselves with depositing them at the 

 entrance of the tube, it was that they might use greater dis- 

 patch in fetching the rest. The rufescent when thus set down 

 remained for a moment coiled up without motion, and then 

 leisurely unrolling itself, looked all around, as if it was quite 

 at a loss what direction to take; — it next went up to the 

 negroes, and by the play of its antennae seemed to implore 

 their succour, till one of them attending to it conducted it 

 into the hive. 



Beings so entirely dependent as these masters are upon their 

 slaves, for every necessary, comfort, and enjoyment of their 

 life, can scarcely be supposed to treat them with rigour or 

 unkindness : — so far from this, it is evident from the preced- 

 ing details, that they rather look up to them, and are in some 

 degree under their control. 



The above observations, with respect to the indolence of 

 our slave-dealers, relate principally to the rufescent species ; 

 for the sanguine ants are not altogether so listless and helpless ; 

 they assist their negroes in the construction of their nests, 

 they collect their sweet fluid from the Aphides ; and one of 

 their most usual occupations is to lie in wait for a small species 

 of ant, on which they feed ; and when their nest is menaced 

 by an enemy, they show their value for these faithful servants 

 by carrying them down into the lowest apartments, as to a 



