A NATURALIST IN BRAZIL 



wound. This poison is deadly to most insects, and paralyses others. 

 The Dinoponera is feared on account of its sting, which is said to 

 be followed by fever. 



Cautiously I captured a few of these black insects, and took them 

 back to Olinda. There I kept them for a long time in large glass jars. 

 They were perfect tigers in insect form. Butterflies, and even bees, 

 which slid fluttering down the glass walls, were caught by the ants, 

 who pursued them, moving their heads from side to side. Then, 

 with their antennae, they pressed the head of the captive to the 

 ground, and against their own abdomen, which was recurved until 

 the deadly poison was injected into the victim. Whatever insect was 

 given them, these savage ants pursued it immediately, and did not 

 rest until they had killed it. 



