The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-10-04
9flistrLIanroNs.
The Ants.


In recent book on the Origin of
Species, Mr.. Darwin, an eminent Eng
lish naturalist gives some account Of
two species of ants, whose custom it is
to make slaves Of other species. OF these
slave-making ants there are two species,
which differ in some respects in their
treatment Of and dependence on their
slaves. One is the red ant, fOrmica rV-
bescens, which inhabits Switzerland, and
whose habits we're observed by Hubor,
son Of the celebrated observer Of bees.
"This an" says Darwin, "is absolutely
dependent on its slaves; without their
aid the species would certainly become
extinct in a single year. The males and
fertile females do no work. The work
ers, or sterile females, though most euer-
getic and courageous in capturing slaves,
do no other work. They are incapable
Of making their own nests or Of feed
ling their own larvae. When the old
nest is found incouvenient, and they
have to migrate, it is the slaves which
determine the migration and actually
carry their masters in their jaws,
So utterly helpless are the masters,
that when Huber shut up thirty of them
without a slave, but with plenty Of the
food they like best, and with their lar
vac, on purpose to stimulate them to
work they did nothing. They could
not feed themselves, and many porished
of hunger. Huber then introduced a
single slave, and she instantly set to
work, fed the survivors, made some cells,
and tended the larvae, and put all to
rights"
The other species, the bloody ant,
formica souguinca, is found also in Eng
land, and was observed by Darwin him
self as well as by Huber. Says Darwin,
"maes and fertile females Of the slave
species are found only in their proper
communities, and have never been OBJ
served in the nests of f, Sanguinea.--
The slaUes are blacb, and not above half
the size of their red masters, so that the
contrast in their appearance is very
great.
When the nest is slightly disturbed
the slaves occasionally come out, and
like their masters, are much ogitaIed
and defend the nest when the the nest
is much agitated, the slaves work ener.
gotically with their masters in carrying
them away to a place Of safety. They
are considered by observers as "strictly
household slaves" This species differ:
from the other, in doing something tc
get their own living and in protecting
the nests. "The masters, says Dar
win, "may be constantly seen bringing
in materials for the rest, and food of al
kinds"
Sometimes the slave communities re
sist the flibuster attacks of the masters
Darwin saw body Of the latter, whc
approached a nest Of the former, vigor
ously repelled by an independent com
muDity Of the slave species. Many Of
the latter were killed aud carried ava,
as food, but the attempt to get any Of
the pup@, to rear as slaves, failed.
{ There is another species, the yelloy
ant which, though small, is very cour
ageous, and attacks courageously its BIZ
neighbors. The latter have learned t.
distinguish the pup@ of the yellow ants
and appeared much terrified when the
, came across it, or even the earth fror
the nest Of the yellow ant and quick
/, ran away; but after the yellow ants ha
crawled away, they took heart and car
ried off the pup@.