LETTERS ON ENTOMOLOGY. 95 
The wars of the ants, not of the same species, 
take place usually among those which differ in 
size ; but the large ones are frequently outnum- 
bered and defeated by their little adversaries. 
Sometimes, however, after suffering a signal de- 
feat, the smaller species are obliged to shift their 
quarters and to seek another establishment. In 
order to cover their march, many small bodies 
are posted at a little distance from the rest. As 
soon as the large ants approach the camp, the 
foremost sentinels fly at them with the greatest 
fury, a violent struggle ensues, multitudes of 
their friends come to their assistance, and the 
giant is either slain or led captive. The species 
which M. Huber observed to fight in this way 
were formica herculanea, and formica sanguined, 
neither of which have been discovered in Britain* 
If you would see war, in all its forms, you must 
behold the combats of the hill ant. There you 
will see populous and rival cities, like Rome and 
Carthage, as if they had vowed each other's de- 
struction, pouring forth their myriads, by various 
roads, to decide their fate by arms. Figure to 
yourself two of these cities, equal in size and 
population, and situated about a hundred paces 
from each other; observe their countless num- 
bers, equal to the population of two mighty em- 
