Chap. V. ANT- ARMIES. 357 



the same family. There is not, however, a distinct 

 separation of classes, individuals existing which connect 

 together the two extremes. These Ecitons are seen in 

 the pathways of the forest at all places on the banks 

 of the Amazons, travelling in dense columns of countless 

 thousands. One or other of them is sure to be met 

 with in a woodland ramble, and it is to them probably, 

 that the stories we read in books on South America 

 apply, of ants clearing houses of vermin, although I 

 heard of no instance of their entering houses, their 

 ravages being confined to the thickest parts of the 

 forest. 



When the pedestrian falls in with a train of these 

 ants, the first signal given him is a twittering and restless 

 movement of small flocks of plain-coloured birds (ant- 

 thrushes) in the jungle. If this be disregarded until he 

 advances a few steps further, he is sure to fall into 

 trouble, and find himself suddenly attacked by numbers 

 of the ferocious little creatures. They swarm up his 

 legs with incredible rapidity, each one driving its pin- 

 cer-like jaws into his skin, and with the purchase thus 

 obtained, doubling in its tail, and stinging with all its 

 might. There is no course left but to run for it ; if 

 he is accompanied by natives they will be sure to 

 give the alarm, crying " Tauoca ! " and scampering at 

 full speed to the other end of the column of ants. The 

 tenacious insects who have secured themselves to his 

 legs then have to be plucked off one by one, a task 

 which is generally not accomplished without pulling 

 them in twain, and leaving heads and jaws sticking 

 in the wounds. 



