"Such are the combats between ants of different size; but if we wish
to behold regular armies war in all its form, we must visit those
forests in which the Fallow Ants establish their dominion over every
insect in their territory. We shall there see populous and rival
cities, regular roads passing from the ant hill as so many rays from
a centre, and frequently by an immense number of combatants, wars
between hordes of the same species for they are naturally enemies
and jealous of the territory which borders their own capital. It
is in these forests I have witnessed the inhabitants of two large
ant-hills engaged in spirited combat. I cannot pretend to say what
occasioned discord between these republics. They were composed of
ants of the same species, alike in their extent and population; and
were situated about a hundred paces distance from each other. Two
empires could not possess a greater number of combatants.
"Let us figure to ourselves this prodigious crowd of insects
covering the ground lying between these two ant-hills, and occupying
a space of two feet in breadth. Both armies met at half-way from
their respective habitations, and there the battle commenced.
Thousands of ants took their station upon the highest ground, and
fought in pairs, keeping firm hold of their antagonists by their
mandibles; a considerable number were engaged in the attack and
leading away prisoners. The latter made several ineffectual efforts
to escape, as if aware that, upon their arrival at the camp, they
would experience a cruel death. The scene of warfare occupied a
space of about three feet square; a penetrating odour exhaled from
all sides; numbers of dead ants were seen covered with venom. Those
ants composing groups and chains, took hold of each other's legs and
pincers, and dragged their antagonists on the ground. These groups
formed successively. The fight usually commenced between two ants,
who seized each other by the mandibles, and raised themselves upon
their hind legs, to allow of their bringing their abdomen forward,
and spirting the venom upon their adversary. They were frequently
so closely wedged together that they fell upon their sides, and
fought a long time in that situation, in the dust; they shortly
after raised themselves, when each began dragging its adversary;
but when their force was equal, the wrestlers remained immoveable,
and fixed each other to the ground, until a third came to decide
the contest. It more commonly happened that both ants received
assistance at the same time, when the whole four, keeping firm hold
of a foot or antenna, made ineffectual attempts to gain the battle.
Some ants joined the latter, and these were, in their turn seized
by new arrivals. It was in this way they formed chains of six,
eight, or ten ants, all firmly locked together; the equilibrium was
only broken when several warriors, from the same republic, advanced
at the same time, who compelled those that were enchained to let
go their hold, when the single combats again took place. On the
approach of night each party returned gradually to the city, which
served it for an asylum. The ants, which were either killed or led
away into captivity, not being replaced by others, the number of
combatants diminished, until their force was exhausted.
"The ants returned to the field of battle before dawn. The groups
again formed; the carnage recommenced with greater fury than on the
preceding evening, and the scene of combat occupied a space of six
feet in length, by two, in breadth. Success was for a long time
doubtful; about mid-day the contending armies had removed to the
distance of a dozen feet from one of their cities, whence I conclude
some ground had been gained. The ants fought so desperately, that
nothing could withdraw them from their enterprize; they did not
even perceive my presence, and although I remained close to the
army, none of them climbed upon my legs; they seemed absorbed in one
object, that of finding an enemy to contend with."