56 OUR INSECT FRIENDS AND FOES 



the vicinity of this circular row, the Ants do not 

 permit a single spire of any other grass or weed 

 to remain a day, until the rice ripens. After 

 the maturing and harvesting of the seed, the dry 

 stubble is cut away and removed from the pave- 

 ment, which is thus left unencumbered until the 

 ensuing autumn, when the same species of 

 grass, and in the same circle, appears again, and 

 receives the same agricultural care as did the 

 previous crop. An examination of the grass- 

 covered nests showed that the Aristida (ant- 

 rice) has exclusive possession of the surface 

 clearing. This statement rests upon a large 

 number of careful observations, and is made 

 without any qualification whatsoever ! " 



The Driver Ants (Anomma arcens) of West 

 Africa play a very important part as natural 

 scavengers, devouring much dead animal matter, 

 and by attacking all creeping insects and small 

 reptiles, help to hold in check their too rapid 

 increase. They are largely nocturnal in their 

 habits, and, like some of the Foraging Ants of 

 Brazil, already described, are quite blind. Their 

 sting is said to be extremely painful, almost like 

 a sudden stab from a red-hot needle. The dread 

 of them is upon every living thing, for they will 

 attack and quickly destroy even the largest 

 animal, if it cannot promptly make good its 

 escape ; so that the great python snake, when 

 gorged with food and rendered stupid by the 

 lethargy of repletion, may be set upon and 

 destroyed by these Ants. Their approach is 

 made manifest by the general stampede of all 

 other living creatures, who make frantic 



