The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-02-07
SLAVERY AMONG INSECTS.

The following singular facts nre from sNew-
mans History OF Insects Tney show that,
even among creeping things, might subverts
right, and the strong tyrannize overthe weak:
The most remarkable fact connected with the
history ofants, is the propensity possessed by cer
tain species 10 kidnap the work ers OF other spe-
ciss, and compel them 10 labor for the benefit of
the community, thus using thew, completely as
slaves; and, as far as we ye, know, the kidnap-
pcrs are red or pale.coiored ants and the slaves,
like the captured natives Of Africa, are Of jet
black. TIE time for taking slaves extends over
aperiod If about ten weeks, and never comInen-
cesun'il the male and female are about emer-
fon The puma s'nt !; and thus the ruthless marau-
ders never interfere with the continuation Of the
species. Tais 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 doomed, still even that Office wonld
fail were the attacks 70 be made on their nest
before 'he winged myriad have departed or are
departing, charged with the duty of continu.
ing their kind. When the red ants nre about
10 sally forth on a marauding expedition, they
send scouts to rscertan the exact position in
which COLONY of negroes may he found. TIE
scnu,s, hav ng discovered the object of their
search, reiura 10 the nest and rero!t their
success. Shortly afterwards the army of red
ants n,nrches forth, headed bv a vanguardy
which is perpeiuav changing. Theindividuals
which constitute il, when they have advanced
little before The main BODY. halt, fall into a
rear, and are replaced by others.
The vanguard consists Of eight or ten ants
only. When thew arrive near the negro co'-
onv they d,sperse. wandering through the
herbage and hunting about, as if aware OF the
propinqunity of the object of their search, yet
ignorant of its exact position At last they
discover the settlement; and the foremost OF
the invaders, rushing upetuously to the at-
tack, nre met, grnp1led with, and frequently
killed hy the negroes on guard. The ul rp
is quickly ,mmunicated to the interior of the
me-: the negroes sally forth by thousands; and
the red nnfs rushing forth to the reacue, q
desperate conflict ensues, which, however, al.
ways term mates in the defeat of the negroes.
who retire to the inner most recess Of their
hnhitation. Nav follow the scenes Of pilage.
The red ants, with their powerful mandihies.
rush into the hear, Of the citadel. In few min
u,es each invader emerges, carving in its mouth
the pupa ofa worker negro, which it has obtain
ed in spite Of the vigilance and vaor Of i's natu-
rn guardians, The red ants return in perfect
order 10 their nests, benrng with the m their hv-
ing burdens. On reaching their nest. the pupa
appears to be treated precisely MS their own; and
the work crs, when they emerge. perform the
various duties Of the community with thefgrea'-
est energy and apparent good will. They re.
pair the nest, excavate the passages collect tood
feed the larvae, take the pup@ into the sunshine.
and perform every Office which the welfare OF
the colony seems to require, They conduct
themselves cntirel, as il fulfilling their original
destination.