Habits of the " Drivers'' of West Africa. 7 



lower limbs (four feet higli) were festoons or lines of the size of 

 a man's thumb, reaching to the plants and ground below, consist- 

 ing entirely of these insects; others were ascending and descend- 

 ing upon them, thus holding free and ready communication with 

 the lower and upper portions of this dense mass. One of these 

 festoons I saw in the act of formation ; it was a good way advanced 

 when first observed : ant after ant coming down from above, ex- 

 tending their long limbs and opening wide their jaws, gradually 

 lengthened out the living chain till it touched the broad leaf of a 

 Canna coccinea below. It now swung to and fro in the wind, the 

 terminal ant the meanwhile endeavouring to attach it by his jaws 

 and legs to the leaf; not succeeding, another ant of the same class 

 (the very largest) was seen to ascend the plant, and, fixing his 

 hind legs with the apex of the abdomen firmly to the leaf under 

 the vibrating column, then reaching forth his fore legs and open- 

 ing wide his jaws, closed in with his companion from above, and 

 thus completed the most curious ladder in the world. 



The line of migrating ants from their former habitation was 

 still continued. When first observed it was composed of indi- 

 viduals of all sizes, pupae, eggs, &c. commingled in the act of 

 transportation. The cause of this assemblage on the outside was 

 the small dimensions of their recently adopted domicil. There 

 was evidently a cavity under the tree, but not of sufficient size 

 for their numbers ; they were therefore busily engaged in enlarg- 

 ing it suitably for their accommodation. The quantity of dirt 

 thrown up in the process was remarkably small. In about two 

 hours I visited the spot again, when the hanging lines or festoons 

 were gone, and about half of the mass also ; some below the 

 surface, others on their predatory excursions. One of their paths 

 I traced to a distance of about twenty rods, when I was pre- 

 vented from going further by a thicket. Their course was easily 

 followed by their beaten track and the arched way, the latter of 

 which was very imperfect, consisting of clay in exposed places, 

 and of grass, sticks, leaves, &c. whenever they could be made to 

 answer the purpose. The line of ants was very much broken and 

 irregular, many of them being gathered into groups in the grass 

 and in holes enjoying the coolness of the shade, waiting for the 

 arrival of evening in which to renew their labours. 



Combustible matter was again applied, and it was not long 

 before a dense column was seen issuing from under the opposite 

 side of the tree, observing their usual order and arrangement. 

 The day was cloudy, a little rain falling ; there was therefore no 

 need of the clayey arch ; but the larger class, arranging themselves 



