294 HYMENOPTERA. 
some nice bit of food ; but what possible 
motive can whole nations of them have 
to quit their employments, and make war 
on each other ? 
Mother. Indeed, Lucy, the same ques- 
tion would equally apply to half the wars 
which have deluged the world with human 
blood. Ants are very irritable, and a 
single combat often brings on a national 
conflict ; sometimes they dispute the 
possession of a bit of ground adjoining 
their cities ; and their valuable herds of 
aphides are constant sources ol^conten- 
tion. But you will be yet more astonished 
when you learn, that some of the wars 
of these little wretches are actually for 
the purpose of making slaves ! If the 
assailants are victorious, the nest of the 
conquered party is immediately invaded, 
and all the pupae are carried oft' in tri- 
umph : these are carefully nursed till 
they have arrived at maturity, and 
are then employed in all the domestic 
drudgery ; they repair the dwelling, at- 
tend to the aphides^ and feed, or even 
