nests inhabited by Ash-coloured Ants in their neighbourhood, to each
of which, in turn, they pay a visit. The route is every day varied,
and, as already stated, the same nest is often pillaged several times
successively; but they never destroy those ant-hills from which they
have carried off the young. In the combats, that almost invariably take
place, but very few Negro Ants perish, since their adversaries have
no desire of making them prisoners, or of disputing the possession of
their invaded city. I have sometimes seen the Amazons, when disposed
in column, take one direction, then suddenly return to the garrison,
and again proceed in a contrary direction. I have also witnessed their
army, but very rarely, separate into two divisions, each taking a
different route. The smallest division, however, on perceiving it is
not in sufficient force, falls back, and rejoins the other; but when
their force is nearly equal, each party goes to pillage separately, and
returns to the garrison laden with booty. It is not so much by their
real force, as by their impetuosity, that they succeed in spreading
dismay among the Ash-coloured Ants; for I have seen an army, composed,
at the most, of only one hundred and fifty Amazons, penetrate one of
their habitations, and afterwards safely convey the purloined pupæ to
their own citadel. What motive can possibly influence the Amazons in
taking a certain route, or falling upon one ant-hill, in preference
to another? To this I can give no direct reply. I once witnessed a
Legionary Ant leave the nest before the hour of departure, apparently
on a journey of discovery; I watched its movements for some time in the
grass, and found it to visit every dry situation, and every place which
seemed to announce the existence of an ant-hill, but I lost sight of it
before its return. I have also seen a few return alone from a distant
spot, and enter precipitately the garrison, when the army put itself
in motion, and commenced a line of march precisely in that direction
by which the couriers had arrived; however, I can, by no means, affirm
this was the reason of their departure.
The signal they adopt is extremely varied; sometimes they strike
against each other with their forehead or mandibles previous to the
commencement of their march; at other times they appear to excite, by
the play of their antennæ, a warlike ardour among their companions;
it would appear that in this way a knowledge of their route is
communicated, for it seems to be fixed at the moment of departure,
since the army proceeds straight to its purpose. What is remarkable
in the arrangement is, that none of the ants composing the troop move
constantly in the same direction; on their arrival at the head of the
column, they make a little circuit _en forme de boucle_, and re-enter
the main body, then, as before noticed, return to the rear-guard, for
the purpose of giving instruction to those behind. Eight or ten of the
Amazons seek every opportunity of outstripping their comrades; these
form the front of the battalion, but this they scarcely attain before
they fall back into the general mass, and thus the advanced guard
sustains a continual renovation.
I have never seen Amazon females in these armies: the neuters alone,
as in all the other species, subject themselves to the chances of war.
They do not march by groping or feeling their way, but run after their
companions in arms, without any fear of straggling, and even should
they do so, which is rarely the case, they are then brought back to the
ant-hill by some of the Negro Ants, who, upon discovering them, seem
sufficiently to understand the nature of their situation.
I was once present when the whole army appeared to be deceived in
its route. It commenced its march after the ordinary manner; in
place, however, of following a straight line, it described a curve,
and reached a distance of about fifty paces, halting several times.
After diverging on all sides, without discovering any of the usual
objects of attack, they fell again into column, and returned by
the same road to their garrison, reaping no advantage from their
expedition. The decision they took of returning would furnish ample
matter for reflection. I shall not now, however, enlarge upon this
subject, but limit myself to the question, how can this fact be
explained on the supposition of a blind instinct?[1] But here is a
fact still more extraordinary. Upon their return our Amazons met with
no flattering reception from the Negroes in the mixed ant-hill, who
individually assailed, buffeted and dragged them to the outside of
the nest, where they even obliged them to act on the defensive: this
hostile disposition, however, continued only a few moments, when the
Amazons were allowed to re-enter their citadel. Are we to conclude
that the Negro Ants were surprised at seeing them arrive without
their accustomed booty, or did the larvæ, &c. serve in their eyes as
passports for those with whose fate their own was so intimately linked?
[1] There are few terms of more extensive signification than that of
_instinct_. In its ordinary acceptation, it implies that principle
which determines the conduct of animals in their several operations.
Admitting, however, _all their ordinary operations_ to be regulated by
such a power, what have we to say touching those instances (and many
such are on record) where, from existing circumstances, the habits of
the animals have undergone _a complete change_, and _recourse has been
had to certain means to attain certain ends_. Man fondly arrogates
to himself an active principle pervading his nature, denominated
_mind_: that he should feel justly proud of this distinction, of that
intellectual superiority which places him so high in the scale of
animal existence, excites little surprise; but let him have the candour
to imagine, that he, perhaps, is not the only being thus gifted; let
him but allow a small portion of the same influence upon the lower
order of beings, and we shall then have a rational theory to account
for those occasional deviations from their natural habits that are
inexplicable on the ground of instinct alone.--T.
The Legionaries never take animal food. I have often cast among them
living insects, such as caterpillars, worms, &c., but never observed
they touched them. I have also placed before them small pieces
of meat, raw and roasted, from which they turned away with equal
indifference, the Negro Ants seizing upon it at the moment.
Another experiment, which I frequently repeated, was that of placing
my hand before the army when in march; the Amazons passed between my
fingers, unalarmed at my presence; none attempted to pinch or sting me.
We could not put to the same proof, with impunity, all other species of
ants.[2]
[2] The Red Ants of this country, on being disturbed, become
excessively angry, and fasten upon the hands and uncovered parts of
the body, where they produce an almost intolerable itching, not much
unlike that occasioned by the stinging nettle. From Perceval we learn,
that the large Red Ants of Ceylon, which live on trees, and build their
nests among the branches, bite very severely. This seems, also, to be
the case with a black ant found in the same island, which, according
to Knox, “bites desperately; as bad as if a man were burnt by a coal
of fire.” Anderson, in his account of the natural productions of Van
Diemen’s Land, states, among other insects, he met with two that were
excessively troublesome, the mosquito, and a large black ant, whose
bite, he observes, occasioned very severe pain. Sir Joseph Banks
notices a green ant, which he saw in New South Wales, that produces
a pain equal to the sting of a bee; and Stedman informs us, that,
at Surinam, the Fire Ant (so called from the burning sensation it
occasions) greatly annoyed the soldiers, making them leap about, as if
scalded with boiling water.--T.
I have never seen the Amazons take nourishment but from the mouth of
the Negroes. I have presented to them honey and fruit, which they left
untasted. When hungry, they approach their auxiliaries, and these
disgorge in their mouths the juices they have obtained in their daily
intercourse with the _pucerons_.
An experiment that I tried upon the Legionaries convinced me of their
dependance upon their humble companions, both for nourishment and
habitation. I enclosed thirty of these ants, with several pupæ and
larvæ of their own species, and twenty pupæ belonging to the Negroes,
in a glass box, the bottom of which was covered with a thick layer of
earth: I placed a little honey in the corner of their prison, and cut
off all association with their auxiliaries. At first they appeared to
pay some little attention to the larvæ; they carried them here and
there, but presently replaced them. More than one-half of the Amazons
died of hunger in less than two days. They had not even traced out a
dwelling, and the few ants still in existence were languid, and without
strength. I commiserated their condition, and gave them one of their
black companions. This individual, unassisted, established order,
formed a chamber in the earth, gathered together the larvæ, extricated
several young ants that were ready to quit the condition of pupæ, and
preserved the life of the remaining Amazons. This result needs no
commentary: I leave to each the liberty of drawing his own conclusions.
CHAP. IX.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE AMAZON ANTS.
If any proof were still wanting of the origin of auxiliary ants in
mixed ant-hills, the discovery of other habitations of this kind would,
doubtless, throw much light upon this subject. I had not long been
occupied, before I discovered such, in which the Amazons were the same,
but the auxiliaries different, being of that species denominated Mining
Ants.
The Mining Ants (_Fourmi mineuse_), who build after the manner of Negro
Ants (of which I have already treated in the chapter on architecture),
are a little larger than the latter, from which they also differ
in the colour of the breast, which is of a bright red. The feet and
antennæ are also of a reddish cast; in regard to the rest of the body,
there is a close resemblance: but for the real distinction between
these two species, we must look to their character. The Mining Ants
possess great vivacity, are very courageous, and live upon animal food.
The Negro Ants are, on the other hand, timid and pacific. It was not,
therefore, without astonishment, that I saw, for the first time, an
ant-hill, composed of Legionary and Mining Ants; it was at least thrice
the size of the simple Miner ant-hills, and contained a vast number of
inhabitants of the two casts. Among the individuals of this society,
the same kind of intelligence seemed to reign as among those which had
fallen under my previous notice.
The Mining Ants go forth in a crowd, from morning until evening, for
the purpose of foraging in the neighbourhood, and thus providing for
the wants of the colony: on their return they share the fruits of
their industry with the Amazons, who are as idle in this community, as
in that of compound Negro ant-hills. The Mining Ants, moreover, are
alone employed in establishing a new domicile, and transporting thither
the Rufescent Ants, their pupæ, their larvæ, and the rest of the
colony, whenever they wish to change their abode; in a word, they are
equally excellent labourers as the Negro Ants, and display much more
zeal in defending their nest.
If compound ant-hills owe their existence to the pillage of the pupæ,
the object of the Amazon Ants in their excursions would be, to attack
the dwelling of Mining Ants, when their associates were of that cast,
and of Negro Ants when they lived with ants of that species.
In the neighbourhood of the mixed ant-hill of which I have just spoken,
comprising a circumference of more than fifty paces, there was no
habitation of Negro Ants: but, of the Miner ant-hills there was great
abundance. This, therefore, was a sufficient reason for believing,
that the ants of that species, living with the Amazons, drew their
origin from these several colonies. To be assured of this, I visited
a compound Miner ant-hill, between four and five in the evening, a
time when the army usually commences its march: the Amazons were
already assembled on the nest, and ready to set forth; they proceeded
like a torrent along a deep dyke, and marched in a more compact body
than ordinary. In a short time they reached the nest they proposed to
attack, which was inhabited by Mining Ants. As soon as the Legionaries
began entering the subterranean city, the Miners rushed out in crowds,
and whilst some fell upon the invaders with great spirit, others passed
through the scene of contest, solely occupied in bearing off to a
place of safety their larvæ and pupæ. The surface of the nest was for
some time the theatre of war. The Legionaries were often despoiled
of the pupæ they had seized by the Miners, who darted upon them with
amazing spirit, fighting body to body, and disputing the ground with
an exasperation I had never before witnessed. The Amazon army was,
notwithstanding successful, and recommenced its march in good order,
laden with pupæ and larvæ: instead, however, of proceeding in file, it
now maintained close rank, forming a compact mass, a precaution the
more necessary, as the courageous insects upon whom they had made this
attack, hastened in pursuit, and even harassed them, to within ten
paces of their citadel.
During these combats the pillaged ant-hill presented, in miniature, the
spectacle of a besieged city: hundreds of its inhabitants were observed
to quit it, carrying here and there the pupæ, larvæ, and young females
they were anxious to preserve from the fury of their enemies. The
major part mounted the neighbouring plants, bearing the young between
their teeth; others deposited them under the thick bushes. When the
danger was entirely gone by, they brought them back into the city, and
barricaded the gates, near which they posted themselves in great number
to guard the entrance. All was calm, however, in the mixed ant-hill;
the Amazons had entered quietly their abode, and had been received by
the auxiliary ants as the real proprietors.
Immediately after, the Legionaries again departed, and proceeded
towards a Miner ant-hill of considerable extent, considering themselves
in sufficient force to cope with the guardians of that habitation: they
threw themselves _en masse_ upon one of the galleries indifferently
guarded; but their number not permitting them to enter all at once, the
Mining Ants that were without, immediately precipitated themselves upon
the invaders: and whilst they were engaged in desperate combat, their
fellow-citizens in considerable number, losing, perhaps, every hope of
defending their abode, and the little ones confided to their care,
left the nest with the pupæ, larvæ, and youngest ants, took flight in
every direction, and literally covered the ground to a considerable
distance. The contest became every moment warmer: here the Amazons
were endeavouring to seize the pupæ, which the Miners were removing
from the seat of war; there the besieged were observed to wrest from
the conquerors the fruit of their rapine. Confusion was at its height;
Legionaries and Miners attacked each other impetuously, and often in
the excess of their fury, deceived as to their object, fell upon their
companions, whom, however, they immediately released. This commotion
was confined to the rear-guard of the Legionary army; the main body,
richly freighted, left the devastated city, and forming into square
battalion, retraced their steps to their own citadel, constantly
assailed by the Miners, who, for some time, continued the pursuit.
It is only by their address, the rapidity of their movements, and
the use of their sting, that the Legionaries are enabled to disengage
themselves. I have often remarked, during these combats, the females of
the Miners take flight, bearing off the pupæ in their mouths, acting
in this respect like simple workers; but have never known them to take
any share in defence of their nest. The pillage and skirmishes are not
of long continuance; for in less than a quarter of an hour, we find
the Amazons on the road to their garrison. Notwithstanding the courage
and exasperated state of both parties, but a trifling number of ants
perish.[1]
[1] If, according to our author, but few ants perish on the field of
battle, I am inclined to think, that a considerable number die of the
wounds and injuries they receive, shortly after their return to the
nest.--T.
This scene, brilliant for its extent, was renewed as often as the
Amazons found the temperature friendly to their departure. The
purloined pupæ are soon developed: and not knowing their real family,
(like the Negro Ants in mixed ant-hills,) bestow all their care upon
the offspring of the Amazons.
Here then are two distinct species of auxiliary ants, in whose
form and character we trace no resemblance, affording a favourable
opportunity for solving the question, relative to the composition of
these ant-hills. If in compound Negro ant-hills, and in compound Miner
ant-hills, we find males and females _of but one species_, we must, of
course, conclude, they have no relation to the auxiliary ants, but only
to the Amazons; indeed those which I saw carried on several occasions
by the Mining workers, in their emigration from one nest to another, in
every respect resembled the little males and large females, met with in
mixed Negro ant-hills: and I have looked in vain for others in the same
habitation. I have even been present at the time of their leaving their
abode, and can affirm, notwithstanding researches the most assiduous,
attention the most unwearied, I never yet perceived any which were
not in every respect like those I have described. Their departure and
the circumstances attending it is by no means a point of indifference.
For several successive days they come to the surface of the nest,
surrounded by the Mining Ants, who form their escort, and take the
same care of them as the workers in simple ant-hills, of the males and
females of their own species. At length they quit the nest and commence
their aërial excursions.
On the 31st July, at half-past ten in the morning, I saw several little
black males issue from a compound Negro ant-hill, accompanied by a
considerable number of Negro Ant labourers. The number of males were
continually increasing; several Amazons on this occasion also left the
nest, and came among them, although it was to them an unaccustomed
hour; they approached the males and licked them after the manner of the
Negro Ants. At length the large females came forth from the citadel,
climbed the neighbouring plants, and in their turn received from the
Negro Ants and the Amazons, the same attention as the males. At eleven
o’clock the males became extremely restless, ran against and overturned
each other, beat the air with their wings, and finally finished their
gambols by taking flight. The females followed their example. More than
fifty females, and four times as many males, quitted the nest. I kept
guard for some time thinking they would return; but I never saw them
more.
The appearance of this ant-hill was both satisfactory and pleasing; the
contrast of females of a fine yellow colour, with little males entirely
black; of winged insects with neuters destitute of wings; and of Amazon
labourers, living in friendly union with such a number of Ash-coloured
Ants, presented a picture full of interest, notwithstanding the
trifling size of the objects that composed it.
In compound ant-hills I have now and then observed some very remarkable
individuals which may be seen delineated in Pl. 2. fig. 1. These are
Rufescent Ants, equalling, in size, females of the same species,
differing only in the form of their thorax, which is not enlarged,
and destined to bear wings; it resembles that of the labourers. These
individuals are, from their size, classed with females, but they do not
possess wings. I should have assigned them a place among the labourers,
had I ever seen them take part in their excursions.[2] Here then is
another example of those transitions we have remarked between the
females and labourers of some insects of the same genus. Among bees
there are several modifications of queens; there exist, also, among
humble bees fecund labourers of different degrees of size, resembling,
in almost every respect, females. This fact comes in support of those
already given, and must convince us, that females and labourers are
originally of the same order, and do not owe their form and real
character, but to the more or less complete developement of their
organs. I know not if the individuals, of which I have just spoken, are
capable of laying, nor can I state the purport of their creation; be
this as it may, they are extremely rare, and have no relation with the
Ash-coloured and Mining Ants, in mixed ant-hills, where we equally find
them.
[2] “It is remarkable,” says Gould, “of common yellow and
hill-settlements, (alluding to the nests of _F. flava_ and _F. rufa_,)
that you will find two sizes of workers in most of them, the larger
exceed the less about one part in three; but there is no apparent
difference as to contexture or other circumstances. They are mutually
interspersed all over the colony, and carry on the same offices of
labour and employment.” This observation of Gould is confirmed by
specimens in the cabinet of Mr. Kirby. This gentleman informs us, that
he saw them labouring in the colony, and that the large workers of _F.
rufa_ are nearly three times, and of _F. flava_ twice the size of the
small ones.--T.
Let us now return to the winged females. A little time after quitting
their natal abode, they lose their wings like the ants of other
species, traverse the ground, and seek a place of shelter. I could
have wished it were possible to follow them; for their history,
especially that part of it which relates to their new progeny, strongly
excited my curiosity. To ascertain how these several colonies exist on
their first formation, is a task of extreme difficulty: how, at this
period, can they associate themselves with auxiliary ants, not being in
sufficient force to make the necessary incursions to procure them? How,
under these circumstances, do they act or can they do without them?
Not being able to answer these questions, I shall adduce some proofs,
showing that the Amazons are more skilful in the domestic arts than
idlers, or those habituated to a life of ease.
Monsieur Latreille, more fortunate than myself, found one of these
newly formed ant-hills. After giving a description of the Rufescent
Ant, (of which we have been accustomed to speak under the name of
Legionary or Amazon Ant,) he observes, “This species is exceedingly
rare; I never observed it in society but once, and this society
consisted only of a few members. It runs remarkably quick, and makes
its nest, I believe, in the earth.” Had there been any association
with the auxiliary ants, this careful observer would doubtless have
noticed and been much struck with it.[3] I look upon it, therefore,
as an almost certain fact, that the Rufescent Ants, before they are
accustomed to the services of the Ash-coloured and Mining Ants, can put
in use faculties which lie dormant when they become associated with
these auxiliaries. It even happens they will sometimes assume their
office, that is, change parts with them: a fact of which I have been
once, and once only, a witness.
[3] Since this passage was written M. Latreille has frequently
witnessed these mixed societies, or the association in one common abode
of the Rufescent Ants with its auxiliaries, (the Ash-coloured and the
Mining Ant). He takes the opportunity of paying a high compliment to
our Author for this discovery.--T.