the liberty, when speaking of the dark Ash-coloured Ant, occasionally
to use the appellation of Negro, or Negro Ant; a term not inapplicable,
when we consider the dark colour of this species, and the situation it
holds in the colony, of providing for and administering to, the wants,
&c. of the Amazons.--T.
I returned the following morning at the same hour, by the route I had
observed the Amazon army take, in the hope of acquiring some knowledge
of the phenomenon of which I had been a witness, when I discovered the
habitation of one of these martial hordes.
I observed on the right of the road a large ant-hill, covered with
ants of that species. They formed into column, set forth in a body,
and fell upon one of the habitations of the Ash-coloured Ants, in
which, experiencing little or no opposition, they entered. One party
immediately returned, bearing in their pincers the purloined larvæ;
another party, less fortunate, quitted the scene of attack, without
reaping any advantage from their expedition:--the former took the
road to their own citadel; the latter marched in a body upon a second
ant-hill, tenanted by the same species as the first, where they made
ample booty. The whole army, now forming two divisions, hastened to the
spot from which it had taken its departure. I reached the garrison a
little before them; but what was my surprise to observe all around, a
great number of that identical species they had gone forth to attack. I
raised up a portion of the building, I still saw more; this induced me
to regard it as one of the habitations that had already been pillaged
by the Amazons, when my suspicions were removed by the arrival of the
Amazon legion at the entrance, charged with the trophies of victory.
Its return excited no alarm among the Negro Ants, who, whilst the
Legionaries were descending with their booty, so far from offering
opposition, were even seen to approach these warriors, caress them with
their antennæ, offer them nourishment, as is the custom with those of
their own species, take up some of the larvæ, and carry them into the
nest. The Amazons remained within the rest of the day: the Negro Ants
kept their station some time without, but retired before night.
No enigma ever raised my curiosity so high as this singular discovery;
and I had the satisfaction of finding near my own residence several
ant-hills of the same kind, not a little astonished at being the first
to notice their existence.
Conscious of the great advantage of having them so near me, I
determined to devote the whole of my time to them. As I was extremely
impatient to ascertain the nature of the connexion between these
different species, I opened one of their dwellings, and there observed
a great number of Rufescent mingled with Ash-coloured Ants, which gave
me some general idea upon this head. The latter were busily engaged
in re-establishing the several avenues, hollowing out galleries,
and carrying below the exposed larvæ and pupæ. The Amazons, on the
contrary, passed over the larvæ, &c. with indifference, not once
deigning to lift them, or take any part in the labours going forward;
they wandered for some time over the surface, and then retired to the
bottom of their citadel.
But at five in the evening, the scene undergoes a complete and almost
immediate change. The Amazons leave their retreat, become restless,
and assemble on the outside. They are all in motion; none, however,
move but in a curved line, and in such a way, as quickly to return to
the outer wall of their garrison; their number increases each moment,
they describe greater circles, a signal is communicated, they pass
from one to the other, striking as they proceed with their antennæ and
forehead the breast of their companions; these, in their turn, approach
those advancing, and communicate the same signal; it is that of
departure; the result satisfactorily proves it. We see those receiving
the intimation, put themselves at the moment in march, and join the
rest of the troop. The column becomes organised, advances in a straight
line, passes over the turf, and removes to a considerable distance.
Not a single Amazon is any longer to be seen near the garrison. The
advanced guard sometimes halts until the rear-guard comes up, and then
diverge to the right and left without advancing; the army forms anew,
and again moves forward with rapidity. There is no commander-in-chief,
every ant is in turn first, each seeking to be foremost; some, however,
move in a different direction, pass from the front to the rear, then
retrace their steps and follow the general movement. There are always
a small number constantly returning to the rear, and it is probably in
this way the movement of the whole army is governed.
At a little more than thirty feet from their own residence, they stop
and explore the ground with their antennæ, much in the same way as dogs
when searching for game. They soon find a subterranean Negro ant-hill,
to the bottom of which its inhabitants have retired. The Legionary
Ants, unopposed, penetrate an open gallery; the whole army enter, seize
upon the pupæ, and return through the several apertures, immediately
taking the road to their garrison. It is now no longer an army disposed
in column, it is an undisciplined horde. The Amazons run after each
other with rapidity, and the last comers from the stormed city are
followed by some few of its inhabitants, who endeavour to wrest from
them their prize; an effort in which it but rarely happens they are
successful.
I return to the garrison to be once more a witness of the reception
given to these plunderers by the Ash-coloured Ants, with whom they
dwell. I observe a considerable number of pupæ heaped up before the
door; each Amazon on its arrival deposits its burthen, and then returns
to the invaded ant-hill;--their auxiliaries suspend their labours in
masonry, and come forward to the pupæ, which they carry one by one
into the interior. The Negroes are also frequently seen to unload
the Amazons, after having amicably touched them with their antennæ,
when the latter yield to them, without opposition, the pupæ they have
purloined.
Let us still follow this army of plunderers on their return a second
time, to the attack of the nearly ruined ant-hill. Its inhabitants,
however, have had time to recover themselves, and to station a strong
guard at each of the entrances. The Legionaries, who are in small
numbers at first, take flight as soon as they perceive the Negroes in a
state of defence; they return to the main body of the army, and advance
and retreat several times successively, until they are in sufficient
force; they then throw themselves _en masse_ upon one of the galleries,
driving away and putting in confusion its inhabitants. The whole army
now enter the subterranean city, and seize upon the larvæ, which they
carry off in great numbers, and in great haste. They never take any of
the parent ants prisoners, their sole object being the possession of
their offspring. Upon their return to the garrison, the most friendly
reception is still given to the Amazons, who--their associates having
arranged the produce of their first harvest,--either deposit their
load at the entrance, or consign it to those in attendance, who hasten
to place it in the interior.
Could one for a moment suppose, that these intrepid warriors would
return a third time to the pillage? This time, however, they had to
undertake a siege in regular form, for the individuals, from whom
they had twice successively taken larvæ and pupæ, had lost no time
in throwing up trenches, barricading the several entrances, and
reinforcing the guard of the interior, as if fully aware of this third
attack from their adversaries. They had, moreover, brought together
all the little pieces of wood and earth within reach, with which they
had blocked up the passage to their habitation, in which they were
posted in force. The Legionaries at first hesitated to approach, but
rambled about or returned to the rear, until sufficiently reinforced;
they then, upon a given signal, rushed forward _en masse_ with great
impetuosity, and began removing with their teeth and feet, the
many obstacles that opposed their progress. Having succeeded, they
entered the ant-hill by hundreds, notwithstanding the resistance of
its inhabitants, and carried off their prize to the garrison. But
this time, in lieu of remitting to their associates their plunder,
they carried it into the under-ground chambers themselves, where they
remained the rest of the day.
On the 23d June, at half-past three, when the sun was extremely
powerful, a few of the Amazons quitted their abode, and after taking
a survey of the environs, re-entered; a moment after, others, but
in trifling number, came to take the air at the entrance of one of
the galleries, where they seemed to await the favourable moment for
commencing their expedition. At a quarter before five they sallied
forth in crowds, and appeared extremely restless; some advanced
into the meadow, whilst others remained on the ant-hill; but a few,
returning to the rear, by the effect of that tactic we have elsewhere
noticed, arrived at the garrison and gave the signal for departure,
by approaching in turn, and striking with their antennæ all their
compatriots, who immediately put themselves in march to join the army.
This warlike phalanx took a direction different from that of the
preceding evening, but soon stopped in their course, and separated in
search of some ant-hill, but experiencing no success, they again formed
and continued their march, until they alighted upon one hidden in the
grass, at about fifty paces from their own dwelling. The Ash-coloured
Ants, frightened at the unexpected arrival and number of the Amazons,
took flight, leaving the latter to make ample booty of larvæ and pupæ,
which they carried off to their own abode.
Another army infinitely more numerous than the first, now issued from
the garrison, and took a different direction in their march, which was
somewhat tedious; they passed untouched several ant-hills inhabited
by a different species, but finding, at length, a nest of Ash-coloured
Ants, they attacked it with their usual fury, and returned laden with
pupæ and larvæ. I was a witness every day during the summer to these
invasions, of which I shall have frequent occasion still to speak.
CHAPTER VIII.
RESEARCHES INTO THE ORIGIN OF MIXED OR COMPOUND ANT-HILLS.
The discovery of societies composed of different species, apparently
living tranquilly together, was of but trifling consideration; an
object of by far higher interest was, to ascertain the real nature and
intent of this association, and to decide to which of the two casts
the ant-hill appertained. The most effectual method of acquiring this
information, was undoubtedly that of inspecting the interior of their
common abode, and of thus coming to the fact, whether there were males
and females of the two species, or of one only; as a previous step, it
was however necessary to institute a comparison between the allied and
rival ants, the Amazons, and the peaceable Ash-coloured Ants, and the
latter intermixed with those of the same species, in simple ant-hills.
The comparison, I would even say the confronting, of the Ash-coloured
Ants in compound, with those inhabiting simple ant-hills, daily
repeated, and often with the microscope, left me no doubt of their
identity.
The Rufescent Ant, denominated by M. Latreille, _Fourmi roussâtre_, in
every point answers the description of those that fell under my own
observation. This author, having made, not only a genus apart, but a
distinct class of these insects, from the simple inspection of their
form, had, without knowing their manners, given the best proof of the
distance which separates them from the dark Ash-coloured Ants. In the
notes at the end of this work, a description is given of both species;
I shall here, however, briefly describe them to prevent the trouble of
recurrence. The former (_Fourmi roussâtre_) is one-third larger than
the latter (_Fourmi noir-cendrée_); its head is of a square form, its
abdomen short and globose, terminating in an obtuse point. It carries
its head close to the ground, stands high upon its legs, and moves by
a succession of jerks. The latter has a triangular-shaped head, which
it carries in an horizontal position; its abdomen is an elongated
oval, its feet are short, and its progressive movement more equal and
uniform. The Rufescent Ant is of one uniform colour, from the antennæ
to the extremity of the abdomen, of a red more or less falling into
yellow, and more or less passing into a brownish tint according to its
age; the whole of its body is, as it were, invested with a rich glossy
varnish. The dark Ash-coloured Ant is sufficiently well described in
its denomination; the rings of its body vary in colour from black to
grey, the rest of the body is of an unpolished black, but that part
lying between the thorax and abdomen (_l’etranglement_) is more
frequently of the same colour; now and then it presents a yellow tinge,
the feet are in colour a little paler. The mandibles or pincers of
the Rufescent Ant, are very slender, arched, destitute of teeth, and
present no concavity; those of the Ash-coloured Ant are large, broad,
hollowed like a spoon, shaped as a gouge, and furnished with teeth
on the margin. The eyes of the former species are very small, black,
and round; those of the latter, rather large and oval. The scale is
large and rounded in the one, large and triangular in the other; the
Rufescent Ant is moreover provided with a sting, of which the dark
Ash-coloured Ant is destitute. We see from this description how much
these species differ.
Let us now pass on to the important research of the males and females,
to determine who are the original tenants of the ant-hill, the Amazons,
or the Negroes, for we must look upon those born there as the first
occupants. From an inspection of the interior of one of these mixed
ant-hills, I came to the knowledge of the singular composition of these
republics. The Negro labourers, by far the most numerous, occupied the
upper story of the building; they were guarding a multitude of pupæ,
which appeared to be of two different species: some resembled those
of the Negro Ants (probably what the Amazons had brought thither),
others exhibited the perfect mould of the Martial Ants; these were
larger than the preceding, their mandibles were slender and arched,
their eyes small and black; added to this, they had every character
of that species. There was also under the guard of the Negro Ants, a
considerable number of larvæ, belonging to different species, admitting
of easy distinction, from the curvature and thickness of the body.
Descending another story, I perceived the Amazons collected in numerous
groups, mingled with the Negroes; but what most interested me, and
fully satisfied my curiosity, was, the finding among them little
males, entirely black, with glittering wings, bearing no resemblance
to those I had hitherto met with. At length I observed females of a
large size, of an orange colour, whose similitude to the Rufescent
Ants, clearly denoted their origin. The greater part possessed wings;
in their body, eyes, and teeth, they closely resembled the Warrior
labourers, but were of greater size. The males were not so large as
those commonly found in simple Negro dwellings, and were unlike them,
in not having either the feet or antennæ yellow.
In further examining the interior of this nest, which was of great
depth and extent, I remarked that the Negroes were alone occupied in
watching over these males and females, who allowed themselves to be
conducted from place to place, as if they looked upon them as their
natural parents. The Amazons, on the other hand, took not the slightest
notice of them, but retired and hid themselves as quickly as possible.
On looking around, I could see no traces of destruction, nor indeed
any thing to justify a suspicion that the Legionary ants were endowed
with a ferocious instinct, although one would be inclined to this
belief from their martial disposition.
It seems sufficiently demonstrated by what we have seen of the contents
of a mixed ant-hill, that _it belongs to the Amazons_, and that it
is composed _of three sorts of individuals of that species_, and _of
Negro labourers_. With all my care, I could perceive neither males
nor females of this latter cast, but only young Negro working ants,
and these I recognised by their colour. But whence does this proceed?
Are the larvæ and pupæ taken away from the Negro Ants by the Amazons
developed in the enemy’s encampment, and do they afterwards become
house-stewards, and auxiliaries to the warlike tribe with whom they
are associated? Every circumstance seems to prove that here rests the
great mystery of their association with the Amazons: brought up in a
strange nation, not only do they live sociably with their captors, but
bestow the greatest care upon their larvæ and pupæ, their males and
females, and even evince the same regard for them, transporting them
from one part of the ant-hill to another, going in search of provisions
for them, building their habitation; forming, as occasion requires,
new galleries, and fulfilling the duties of sentinels, by guarding the
exterior of their common abode, not once suspecting that they live with
those very insects who have expatriated them.
Whilst the Negro Ants are thus engaged, the Amazons tranquilly wait
at the bottom of their subterranean abode, the hour of departure,
reserving their strength, their courage, and the tactic they so well
know how to put in use, for the purpose of bringing in, from some
neighbouring ant-hill, hundreds of larvæ, which they confide to those
in charge of the household establishment; these, in their turn, are
destined to become useful to the community.
The ants, whose habitation I had deranged, had already furnished
me with some traits leading to a conjecture of these truths. When
the Amazons, deceived by the strange appearance of their nest, were
wandering over the surface, unable to find a retreat, the Negro Ants,
who were incessantly occupied in forming new galleries, and who knew
better than they the new localities of the ant-hill, drew them from
their embarrassment by taking them up gently in their mandibles,
and conducting them to the galleries already pierced. An Amazon was
frequently seen to approach a Negro, and play upon its head with its
antennæ, when the latter immediately seized it in its pincers, and
deposited it at one of the entrances. The Amazon Ant then unrolled
itself, caressed once more its kind friend, and passed into the
interior of the nest. It now and then happened that a Negro Ant,
engaged in carrying an Amazon, lost all knowledge of its route,
wandering here and there without finding any entrance.
I observed one, after several ineffectual windings, take the precaution
of laying on the earth the Amazon, who remained in the same spot until
the Negro returned to its assistance, who, having well ascertained and
examined one of the entrances, resumed its burthen, and bore it into
the interior. If the entrance to any gallery was unluckily obstructed
by a mass of earth, and the Negro Ant wished to introduce by that way
one of the Amazons, it quickly deposited its load, and began clearing
away the impediment; this was no sooner effected, than the Amazon was
again taken up, and carried triumphantly into the nest.
If individual facts prove the harmony which reigns between these two
species, living under the same roof, general facts fully illustrate
what has been already stated.
We may readily see, from the appearance of mixed ant-hills, they are
the sole work of the Ash-coloured Ants, although they are of greater
extent than simple ant-hills, inhabited by that species, arising
from their double population, and the prodigious number of auxiliary
ants they contain. Their form, the architecture displayed in their
construction, the substance of which they are composed, the interior
arrangement, is altogether alike. I have frequently seen the Negro
Ants of compound ant-hills take advantage of the rain to construct new
stories upon their original domicile; they also often increase the
extent of it by forming halls and chambers on the exterior margin; so
that in three or four days they form, as it were, a new dwelling around
the first enclosure.
The Legionaries never venture abroad, like the Ash-coloured Ants,
during the rain, nor do they even, during that period, advance so far
as the outer gallery; nor are any seen, as one would suppose, presiding
over the masons, in their work; indeed, the Negroes require neither an
inspector, nor the excitement of the sting, to induce them to labour;
for they are eager to build whilst the rain continues, and their
work advances rapidly, on account of their number being infinitely
more considerable than that of the labourers in a simple ant-hill.
Their operations being finished, they are extremely solicitous the
Legionaries should enjoy the advantage; to this end, they lose no time
in transferring the colony from the old to the new habitation. But if
we are desirous of witnessing a still more curious spectacle, we must
observe them when they are about to change their domicile for one more
convenient, it being upon them alone the office falls of deciding the
urgency of an emigration, and of choosing the situation best adapted
(usually one where the soil is loose, admitting of greater facility
of mining) for a new establishment. We see them at first engaged in
carrying each other to the place destined to this object, where
each Negro Ant either begins immediately clearing away the earth, or
returns to bring away more of its comrades. When the new habitation
is sufficiently advanced, they transport thither all the Amazons. We
now see, in the road of communication between the old and new city, a
file of Negro Ants, carrying the Legionaries, whose colour strikingly
contrasts with that of their conductors. By these faithful guardians,
the males and females are afterwards brought away in the same manner,
and on their arriving at the entrance of the lodge prepared for them,
are placed successively before the door, when other Negro labourers
come forward and take them into the nest. The larvæ and pupæ are now
taken away in their turn, and safely deposited in the new habitation.
In the morning these trusty servants go in search of provisions for
the whole colony; at one time they bring back little dead animals, at
another time return with their stomachs full of the liquor furnished
them by the pucerons. They may be constantly seen going and coming on
the road to the ant-hill. This is not the case with the Legionaries,
for they never go in quest of the pucerons, and it is a rare
circumstance should they venture forth during the early part of the day.
We have now taken a view of the Negro Ants or auxiliaries in the
several offices of, procuring provisions for the republic, constructing
a common abode, and conducting thither its varied inhabitants; the
Amazons, a colony of soldiers, have, on the contrary, no other
occupation, and no other talent than that for war; their manners are
altogether distinct. They seldom leave their retreat, unless the
temperature be above the 16th degree of Reaumur (67° of Fahrenheit)
when placed in the shade. The general rendezvous commonly takes place a
little before five in the evening: I have, however, sometimes seen them
take their departure earlier, but never before two, nor later than
five. They always return at six or half past six. They never quit their
abode, unless the weather be fine.
These insects have but one object in their excursions, that of stealing
the young from an industrious race, and making slaves of them; and
these are the very individuals, who, after a time, labour for this
Amazon colony, rear their young, and furnish them with provisions. This
being the sole aim of the Amazons, they never seize any but larvæ and
working pupæ, for the males and females would be useless. Nature would
not assuredly allow the destruction of the habitations of Negro Ants,
since this would be to involve in equal ruin those of the Amazons.