Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-12-22
Slavery among Insects.

The following singular facts are from
" Newman History Of Insects" They
snow that, even among creeping things,
might subverts right, and the strong tyran-
Mise over the weak
The most remarkable fact connected
with the history of ants, is the propensity
possessed by certain species to kidnap the
workers of other species, and compel them
/ TO labor for the benefit of the community.
/ thus using them completely as slaves and,
as far as we yet know, the kidnappers are
red or pale-colored ants, and the slaves.
like the captured natives of Africa. are of
Jet black. The time for taking slaves
extends over period of about ten weeks,
and never commences until the male and
female are about emerging from the pupa
state; and thus the ruthless marauders
never interfere with the continuation of the
species. This instinct seems specially
provided for were the slave ants created
for no other end than to fill the station of
/ slavery, to which they appear to be DOOM
ed, still even that office would fail were
the attacks to be made on their nest before
the winged myriads have departed or are
departing, charged with the duty of con-
tinuing their kind. When the red ants
are about to sally forth on a marauding ex-
pedltlOn, they send scouts to ascertain the
exact position in which colony of negroes
may be found. The scouts, having dis
covered the object of their search, return
TO the nest and report their success
Shortly afterwards the army of red ants
marches forth, headed by a vanguard,
which IS perpctually changing. The indi-
viduals which constitute it, when they have
advanced a little before the main BODY,
halt, fall into the rear and are replaced by
others.
The vanguard consists of eight or ten
ants only. When they have arrived near
the negro colony they disperse, wandering
through the heritage and hunting about, as
II aware Of tAe propinquity of the object !
OF their search, yet ignorant fits exact po-
sition. At last they discover the settle |
ment; and the foremost of the invaders. |
rushing impetuously to the attack, are met. I
grappled with, and frequently killed by /.
the negroes on guard. The alarm is quick |
ly communicated to the interior of the /
nest; the negroes sally forth by thou
Soilbc anu tliC ICN dlltS IuSIiI1 10 IIlG I
rescue, desperate conflict ensues, which, !
however, always terminates in the defeat .
OF the negroes, who retire to the innermost .
recesses of their habitation. Now follow /
the scenes of pillage. The red ants with !.
their powerful mandibles, tear open the /
sides of the negro ant-hills, and rush into
the heart of the citadel. In few minutes
each invader emerges, carrying in Its mouth
the pupa of worker negro, which it has
obtained in spite of the vigilance and valor
of its natural guardians. The red ants re-
turn in perfect order to their nests, bearing
with them their living burdens. On reach
ing their nest, the pupa appears to be
treated precisely as their own: and the
workers, when they emerge, perform the
various duties of the community with the
greatest energy and apparent good WILL
They repair the nest, excavate the passa-
ges, collect food, feed the lary;p, take the /
pupe into the sunshine, and perform every !
office which the welfare of the colony /
seems to require. They conduct them /
selves entirely as if fulfilling their original /
destination