THE AMAZON ANTS. 255 
residence several ant-hills of the same 
kind, not a little astonished at being the 
first to notice their existence. 
Conscious of the great advantage of 
having them so near me, I determined to 
devote the whole of my time to them. 
As I was extremely impatient to ascertain 
the nature of the connexion between 
these different species, I opened one of 
their dwellings, and there observed a 
great number of Rufescent mingled with 
Ash-coloured Ants, which gave me some 
general idea upon this head. ‘The latter 
were busily engaged in re-establishing 
the several avenues, hollowing out galle- 
ries, and carrying below the exposed 
larvee and pupe. ‘The Amazons, on the 
contrary, passed over the larvae, &c. with 
indifference, not once deigning to lift 
them, or take any part in the labours 
going forward; they wandered for some 
time over the surface, and then retired 
to the bottom of their citadel. 
But at five in the evening, the scene 
undergoes a complete and almost imme- 
17* 
