( Iviii ) 



tree) so that there would be numerous loose cavities in the 

 soil underneath. The only evidence of the presence of ants 

 was the small heap of rubbish carried from the nest and 

 dumped a small distance from the entrance. This consisted 

 mainly of old cocoons and the remains of soldier Termites, 

 with particles of soil, though the latter was only in small 

 quantity and would appear to indicate that the inhabitants 

 of the nest do very little in the way of excavation. (In the 

 making of a Driver nest a large amount of earth is thrown 

 up.) 



" The small army soon disappeared underground. I 

 managed to get a few members with their prey, and it was 

 then that I knew definitely that they were not Stink Ants 

 and noted for the first time their most striking character, 

 the loud hissing they made when disturbed. Merely to stamp 

 on the ground in their neighbourhood is enough to make 

 Palfothyreus start for the nest, and the disgusting odour 

 they emit soon assails the nostrils. This time, however, 

 the effect was entirely different. The part of the line nearest 

 the cause of the alarm, immediately spread in all directions, 

 apparently eager to do battle, and, without any effort, I 

 could hear quite distinctly their loud hissing, almost like 

 water on hot metal. The line soon re-formed on my re- 

 maining quiet. I stooped over them to get a nearer view and 

 made a few remarks to a friend who was standing by. As 

 soon as I had spoken, though I was otherwise making no 

 movement or noise, the ants nearest me broke from the 

 ranks, and the whole army began to hiss. This little experi- 

 ment I tried several times, and always with success. The 

 comparative speed with which they cover the ground, and 

 maintain their regular formation, though cumbered with the 

 dead or paralysed foe, is very remarkable. 



" I had by this time only a day or two left, but hoped with 

 good luck to be able to trace them to a termitarium, if I 

 found them setting out. Their nest was on the cultivated 

 ground of a farm, a few yards from thick bush. Between 

 the farm and the bush ran a narrow path and for about fifty 

 yards the ants travelled parallel with this path, keeping 

 under cover of herbaceous weeds and dead leaves. I noticed 



