ANTS. 83 



known. It is a large species frequenting the forests on 

 the ground, and is much dreaded by the natives, as its 

 sting produces intense pain and illness. I was myself 

 stung by this or an allied species when walking barefoot 

 in the forest on the Upper Rio Negro. It caused such 

 pain and swelling of the leg that I had some difficulty 

 in reaching home, and was confined to my room for two 

 days. Sir Robert Schomburgh suffered more ; for he 

 fainted with the pain, and had an attack of fever in 

 consequence. 



We now come to the Myrmecidse, which may be called 

 the destroying ants from their immense abundance and 

 destructive propensities. Many of them sting most 

 acutely, causing a pain like that of a sudden burn, 

 whence they are often called " fire-ants." They often 

 swarm in houses and devour everything eatable. Isola- 

 tion by water is the only security, and even this does 

 not always succeed, as a little dust on the surface will 

 enable the smaller species to get across. Oil is, however, 

 an effectual protection, and after many losses of valuable 

 insect specimens, for which ants have a special affection, 

 I always used it. One species of this group, a small 

 black Crematogaster, took possession of my house in 

 New Guinea, building nests in the roof and making 

 covered ways down the posts and across the floor. They 

 also occupied the setting boards I used for pinning out 

 my butterflies, filling up the grooves with cells and 

 storing them with small spiders. They were in constant 

 motion, running over my table, in my bed, and all over 

 my body. Luckily, they were diurnal, so that on 

 sweeping out my bed at night I could get on pretty well ; 

 but during the day I could always feel some of them 



G 2 



