98 LETTERS ON ENTOMOLOGY. 
do not, like the African kings, make slaves of 
the older ones; their object being to carry off 
the infants of the colony, the larvae and pupae, 
which they educate in their own nests till they 
arrive at their perfect state, when they under- 
take all the business of the society. The ru- 
fescent ants do not go on these excursions, which 
last about ten weeks, till the males are ready to 
emerge into the perfect state ; and it is very re- 
markable, that if any individuals attempt to stray 
abroad earlier, they are detained by their slaves, 
who will not suffer them to proceed ; a wonder- 
ful provision of the Creator to prevent the black 
colonies from being pillaged when they contain 
only male and female brood, which would be 
their total destruction, without being any benefit 
to their assailants, to whom workers alone are 
useful. Their time of sallying forth is from two 
to five o'clock, if the weather is fine. Previously 
to marching they send out scouts, and proceed 
to the quarter from whence they come. The 
advanced guard usually consists of eight or ten 
ants ; but no sooner do these get beyond the rest; 
than they move back, wheeling round in a semi- 
circle, and mixing with the main body, while 
others succeed to their station. They have " no 
captain, overseer, or ruler" as Solomon observes, 
