18 The Naturalist in Nicaragua 
In Nicaragua they are generally called “ Army Ants.” One 
of the smaller species (Eczton predator) used occasionally to 
visit our house, swarm over the floors and walls, searching 
every cranny, and driving out the cockroaches and spiders, 
many of which were caught, pulled or bitten to pieces, and 
carried off. The individuals of this species are of various 
sizes; the smallest measuring one and a quarter lines, and 
the largest three lines, or a quarter of an inch. 
I saw many large armies of this, or a closely allied species, 
in the forest. My attention was generally first called to 
them by the twittering of some small birds, belonging to 
several different species, that follow the ants in the woods. 
On approaching to ascertain the cause of this disturbance, a 
dense body of the ants, three or four yards wide, and so 
numerous as to blacken the ground, would be seen moving 
rapidly in one direction, examining every cranny, and under- 
neath every fallen leaf. On the flanks, and in advance of 
the main body, smaller columns would be pushed out. 
These smaller columns would generally first flush the cock- 
roaches, grasshoppers, and spiders. The pursued insects 
would rapidly make off, but many, in their confusion and 
terror, would bound right into the midst of the main body of 
ants. A grasshopper, finding itself in the midst of its enemies, 
would give vigorous leaps, with perhaps two or three of the 
ants clinging to its legs. Then it would stop a moment to 
rest, and that moment would be fatal, for the tiny foes would 
swarm over the prey, and after a few more ineffectual struggles 
it would succumb to its fate, and soon be bitten to pieces and . 
carried off to the rear. The greatest catch of the ants was, 
however, when they got amongst some fallen brushwood. 
The cockroaches, spiders, and other insects, instead of running 
right away, would ascend the fallen branches and remain 
there, whilst the host of ants were occupying all the ground 
below. By and by up would come some of the ants, follow- 
ing every branch, and driving before them their prey to the 
ends of the small twigs, when nothing remained for them but 
to leap, and they would alight in the very throng of their foes, 
with the result of being certainly caught and pulled to pieces. 
Many of the spiders would escape by hanging suspended by a 
thread of ‘silk from the branches, safe from the foes that 
swarmed both above and below. 
