8 Rev. Thomas S. Savage on the 



on either side as before described formed the substitute. Under 

 this arch, armed on all sides with sharp claws, and fierce, hooked, 

 open jaws, " the feebler folk," or, as my native interpreter said, 

 the women and their children, passed rapidly forward in conscious 

 safety. Others of the largest class appeared in the main line at 

 different distances carrying nothing, yet acting no unimportant 

 part. They would occasionally step out of the line and return, as 

 if holding communication with their comrades behind; then, taking 

 their places as before, march on with all their former celerity. 

 Others again of the same class were seen on the outside, running 

 here and there, then stopping, elevating their heads to a point 

 above the others, stretching forth their fore legs, opening wide 

 their jaws, and twirling in every direction their long antennae, as 

 if in apprehension of danger. 



I visited them again the next morning, when I found them still 

 engaged in removing. Thousands and tens of thousands must 

 have been destroyed by the two fires, and yet apparently their 

 numbers were undiminished. I have not on this or any other 

 occasion detected a winged individual, though it is the season 

 when such are to be found in all communities of ants not apterous. 



They carry their pupae and prey longitudinally under their 

 bodies, held firmly between their mandibles and legs, the latter of 

 which are admirably calculated by their length and slenderness for 

 this purpose. The freedom and ease with which they carry their 

 burthen is truly surprising. I have seen the third class, or workers, 

 with pupae of the first class, or soldiers, certainly as large again as 

 themselves ; and, again, with prey twice or more their size, moving 

 with as great a degree of celerity as we should suppose them 

 capable of doing without any burthen. 



Their mode of biting differs from that of the soldiers among 

 the Termes. The mandibles of the latter are flat and sharp, and 

 move in a cross direction, cutting in the manner of scissors. The 

 mandibles of the Driver of the first class are very prominent and 

 formidable, strongly hooked, having one tooth ; those of the second 

 class are flatter, sharper, and armed with two strong teeth, the 

 edges finely serrated, and admirably calculated for lacerating and 

 cutting muscular fibre. The onset of (he former is with a grasp that 

 causes their victim to start and wince as if life were in danger ; 

 their mandibles are fixed so strongly into the flesh, and their hold 

 retained with such pertinacity, that a separation is effected often 

 only by a dismemberment of the body. If permitted to retain 

 their hold, the motion of their jaws is alternately from one side to 

 the other, penetrating deeper and deeper at every stroke. With 



