I02- 
SUMATRA. 
are alfo, the largt black ant^ not equal in fize to the crango, but with a 
head of extraordinary bulk; the common black ant; and minute black 
ant, Thefel fay are the moft ftriking difcriminations ; but the clafTes 
are m faflr, by many times more numerous, not only in the various gra- 
dations of fize, but in a circumftance which I do not recolledt to have 
been attended to by any naturalift; and that is, the difference with 
which they affect the tafte, when put into the mouth; which often hap- 
pens unintentionally, and gave me the firft occafion of noticing this 
fmgular mark of variety. Some are hot and acrid, fome bitter, and 
fome four as verjuice* Perhaps this will be attiibuted to the different 
foods they have accidentally devoured; but I never found one which 
tafted fweet, though I have caught them in the faft of .robbing a fugar 
or honey pot. Each fpecies of ant is a declared enemy of the other, and 
never fuffers a divided empire. Where one party effe<5ls a fettlemenr, 
the other is expelled; and in general they are powerful in proportion ta 
their bulk ; except the white ant, which is beaten from the field by 
others of inferior fize; and for this reafon it is a common expedient 
to Itrew fugar on the floor of a warehoufe, in order to allure the formicae 
to the fpot, who do not fail to combat and overcome the ravaging, but 
un warlike termetes. 
Pradu^ms 
