264 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



class ; the large-heads have, in some species, greatly-lengthened jaws ; 

 the small-heads have jaws always of the ordinary shape, but the two 

 classes are not sharply defined in structure and function, except in 

 two species. In these the jaws of the worker-majors are so monstrous- 

 ly lengthened that they are incapacitated for taking part in the labors 

 of tlie Avorker-minors, and act as soldiers. The peculiar feature in the 

 habits of the genus Eciton is their hunting for prey in regular bodies 

 or armies. It is this which chiefly distinguishes them from the genus 

 Myrmica^ the common red stinging-ant of the temperate zone, whose 

 habit is to search for food in the usual irregular manner. All the 

 Ecltons hunt in large organized bodies ; but almost every species has 

 its own special manner of hunting, 



Eciton Legionis. In this species there is no division in classes 

 among its workers, although the difference in size is very great. It 

 lives in open places, and its movements are easy to be observed ; 

 its sting and bite are not very formidable. The armies consist of 

 thousands of individuals, and move in rather broad columns. They 

 are quick to break line on being disturbed, and attack hurriedly and 

 furiously any intruding object. Their activity seems to be chiefly 

 directed to plundering the nests of a large defenseless ant of another 

 genus [Formica). 



EciTON" Drepanophara. This, one of the commonest species of 

 foraging-ants, confines its ravages to the thickest part of the forest. 

 When a pedestrian falls in with one of their trains, the first signal 

 given him is a twittering and restless movement of small flocks of 

 plain-colored birds (ant-thrushes) in the jungle. If this be disre- 

 garded, and he advances a few steps farther, he is sure to fall into 

 trouble, and find himself suddenly attacked by numbers of the fero- 

 cious little creatures. They swarm up his legs with incredible rapidity, 

 each one driving his pincer-like jaws into his skin, and, with the pur- 

 chase thus obtained, doubling its tail and stinging with all its might. 

 There is no course left but to run for it. The tenacious insects then 

 have to be plucked off, one by one, a task which is generally not ac- 

 complished without pulling them in twain, and leaving heads and jaws 

 sticking in the wounds. 



The errand of the vast ant-armies is plunder. Wherever they 

 move, the whole animal world is set in commotion, and every creat- 

 ure tries to get out of their way. It is especially wingless insects 

 that have cause to fear, such as heavy-bodied spiders, maggots, cater- 

 pillars, larvse of cockroaches, etc., all of which live under fallen leaves, 

 or in decaying wood. The main column, from four to six deep, moves 

 forward in a given direction, clearing the ground of all animal matter, 

 dead or alive, and throwing out here and there a thinner column to 

 forage for a short time on the flanks of the main army. If some rich 

 place be encountered, for example, a mass of rotten wood abounding 

 in insect-larvae, a delay takes place, and a very strong force is concen- 



