80 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 



out of reach of the ants, so I focused carefully 

 on one of the soldiers and watched the entire 

 process. The small ants scrubbed and scraped 

 him with their jaws, licking him and removing 

 every particle of dirt. One even crawled under 

 him and worked away at his upper leg- joints, 

 for all the world as a mechanic will creep under 

 a car. Finally, I was delighted to see him do 

 what no car ever does, turn completely over and 

 lie quietly on his back with his legs in air, while 

 his diminutive helpers overran him and gradually 

 got him into shape for future battles and forag- 

 ing expeditions. 



On this resting-stage, within well-defined lim- 

 its, were dozens of groups of two cleaning one 

 another, and less numerous parties of the tiny 

 professionals working their hearts out on bat- 

 tle-worn soldiers. It became more and more ap- 

 parent that in the creed of the army ants, clean- 

 liness comes next to military effectiveness. 



Here and there I saw independent individuals 

 cleaning themselves and going through the most 

 un-ant-like movements. They scraped their jaws 

 along the board, pushing forward like a dog try- 

 ing to get rid of his muzzle; then they turned 

 on one side and passed the opposite legs again 



