84 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. V. 



had gone forth, or a general understanding heen come to, 

 that the rails were not to be crossed. 



These ants do not appear to have many enemies, 

 though I sometimes found holes burrowed into their 

 nests, apparently by the small armadillo. I once saw a 

 minute parasitic fly hovering over a column of ants, near 

 a nest, and every now and then darting down and 

 attaching an egg to one entering. Large, horned beetles 

 (Coelosis bifoba) and a species of Staphylinus are found in 

 the nests, but probably their lame live on the rotten 

 leaves, after the ants are clone with them. 



