224 



NATURAL HISTORY 



There is a great difference in the foraging habits of the ants in cold 

 and warm climates. In the north each ant goes off by itself, but in tropical 

 America and Africa they hunt in vast armies. Most noted of these trop- 

 ical forms are the driver-ants of western Africa. They are jet-black and 

 vary from a third to three-quarters of an inch in length. According to Dr. 

 G. A. Perkins, " They do not appear to have any fixed habitations . . . but 

 excavate the earth from between the roots of trees, and in the cavity thus 

 formed lay their eggs and rear their young, and from which they issue in 

 incredible numbers (literally millions of millions) to go on their raids. 



" The night is chosen for their foraging expeditions. In the midst of 

 social enjoyment the stirring announcement is made, ' Here are the 

 drivers ! ' and instantly, as by an electric shock, all are on the alert to 

 escape a personal attack. Lanterns and bamboo torches are lighted, and 

 a search made about the house to learn the direction taken by the assail- 

 ants ; and if in their usual numbers, the house is often left to them entirely 

 for hours. ... ' All hands ' are awaked from their slumbers, and the 

 whole yard lighted ; the animals are released from confinement and left to 

 take care of themselves ; the fowls removed to a place of safety if one is 

 to be found ; but if neglected and left without the chance of escape, their 

 destruction is sure. 



" The drivers are alike the enemy of man and beast, though there are 

 times when their visits are most welcome. On their approach every kind 

 of vermin is seized with consternation and seeks safety in flight. Centi- 

 pedes, cockroaches, scorpions, etc., etc., leave their hiding-places, and are 

 seen seeking places of greater security, only to fall at last into the clutches 

 of their relentless foe, from whom there is no escape. 



" An invading arm}- could not exhibit a higher state of discipline than 

 is seen in the movements of these insects. They enter a house, usually at 

 one point, where a strong guard is left to defend the pass ; they then 

 branch off right and left, and again divide and subdivide, till the whole 

 ground is completely covered ; not an inch is left unexplored, and every 

 crack and cranny is entered, giving but little hope of escape to any crea- 

 ture that may be found secreted there. Attacking their prey, they plunge 

 their forceps into it, regardless of the size or strength of their antagonist. 

 Nothing will cause them to relax their hold. The animal or insect writhes 

 and twists under the pain, but his case is rendered more hopeless every 

 moment by additions to the number of his assailants ; at length, when 

 completely exhausted by struggling, he yields to his fate, and is despatched 

 at the victors' leisure. ... It is interesting to see a band of these mid- 

 night marauders returning home from the scene of plunder on the approach 

 of day. Issuing from the same, place they entered, they are each seen 



