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The soldier of Atta cejihalotes is a very vigorous defender of the 

 nest and justly warrants the application of the name. This is fully 

 shown in the text of the following paper published in the " Annals 

 and Magazine of Natural History," February, 1896, where our obser- 

 vations on this point are recorded : — 



Atta (CEcodoma) Cephalotes, Latr. -. — " The Soldier." 



(By J. H. Hart, F.L.S.J 



In studying the various forms of the inhabitants contained in a nest of the 

 " Sauba " or " Parasol- Ant" I have observed :— (1) males, (2) queens, (3) soldiers, 

 (4) large workers, (5) smaller workers, and (6) nurses. 



Lubbock gives only five classes — 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5— the fourth and fifth of 

 which he calls large workers, and states : — " Bates never saw either of the last 

 two kinds do any work at all, and was not able to satisfy himself as to their 

 functions. They have also been called soldiers, but this is obviously a misnomer 

 — at least they are said never to fight. Bates suggests that they may serve in 

 some sort as passive instruments of protection to real workers. Their enormously 

 large, hard, and indestructible heads may be of use in protecting them against 

 the attacks of insectivorous animals. They would be on this view pieces de 

 resistance, serving as a foil against onslaughts made on the main body of the 

 workers. " 



Lubbock then states* that he is not satisfied with this solution, and thinks 

 the true function of these large-headed forms is not yet satisfactorily explained. 

 I have personally had the advantage of studying the insect both in 

 Nicaragua and m Trinidad, and I must agree with him, for the observations I 

 have made clearly show the "soldier," or No. 3 of my set, to be actually a 

 "soldier," and a most resolute defender of the nest in which he (?) resides. 



If a nest of Atta cephalotes is visited and the slightest disturbance made, 

 the first members which appear are the " soldiers," who will seize any and every 

 thing presented to them or that comes in their way. I have suffered myself to 

 be bitten on the hand by one of them, and have watched the process. 



The mandibles are first fully extended and the skin is firmly grasped by 

 the points, but as the pressure is continued the mandibles meet below the skui to 

 a depth of 3 to four millim. , causing a neatly incised wound sometimes as much, 

 as 5 to 6 millim. in length, and resembling a cut from a small knife. The grip of 

 the animal is so tenacious that it will allow its head to be pulled from its body 

 before it will quit its hold, and will fix to iron, flesh, or cloth with equal facility. 

 Mr. Lunt, my assistant, when visiting a large nest had thick woollen socks 

 so ciit through by the "soldier" of this species that they were useless for further 

 wear. 



If a nest is visited and an alarm caused by putting a piece of iron, stick, or 

 other instrument into their holes, it is sure, when removed, to be covered with 

 the " soldier" ants hanging to it by their mandibles. 



In addition to these facts I have seen m my artificial nests, which I have 

 had under observation for some three years, many fights with the "soldier." 



The workers of Atta octospiiiosa, Reich., among which there are no 

 "soldiers," can easily kill the "soldier" of A cephalotes: they proceed as fol- 

 lows :— The "soldier" is attacked in regular order by six or eight of the 

 octospinosa, who completely surround their victim, and watch their opportunity 

 to seize the outer joint of his (?) legs. This is cut off, and gradually the creature 



^Ants, Bees and Wasps." 



