FORMICID.E — ANTS. 1 G 7 



and twentieth of Nouember ; after which the Ant damage 

 became more tolerable, and by little and little diminished, 

 by God's mercie and intercession of that Saint. "^ 



These devouring Ants showed themselves about the year 

 1760 in Barbados, and caused such devastations that, in 

 the words of Dr. Coke, "it was deliberated whether that 

 island, formerly so flourishing, should not be deserted." In 

 17fi3, Martinique was visited by these devastating hordes; 

 and about the year 1770 they made their appearance in the 

 island of Granada. Barbados, Granada, and Martinique 

 suffered more than any other islands from this plague. 

 Granada especially was reduced to a state of the most de- 

 plorable desolation; for, it is said, their numbers there 

 were so immense that they covered the roads for many 

 miles together; and so crowded were they in many places 

 that the impressions made by the feet of horses, which trav- 

 eled over them, would remain visible but for a moment or 

 two, for they were almost instantly filled up by the sur- 

 rounding swarms. Mr. Schomburgk assures us that calves, 

 pigs, and chickens, when in a helpless state, were attacked 

 by such large numbers of these Ants that they perished, and 

 were soon reduced to skeletons when not timely assisted. 

 It is asserted by Dr. Coke that the greatest precaution was 

 requisite to prevent their attacks on men who were afflicted 

 with sores, on women who were confined, and on children 

 that were unable to assist themselves, Mr. Castle, from his 

 own observation, states that even burning coals laid in their 

 way, were extinguished by the amazing numbers which 

 rushed upon them. 



Notwithstanding the myriads that were destroyed by fire, 

 water, poison, and other means, the devastations continued 

 to such an alarming extent, that in 1776 the government of 

 Martinique offered a reward of a million of their currency 

 for a remedy against this plague; and the legislature of 

 Granada offered £20,000 for the same object ; but all at- 

 tempts proved ineffectual until the hurricane in 1780 effected 

 what human power had been unable to accomplish. 



In 1814, the Ants again made their appearance in the 

 island of Barbados, doing considerable injury; but happily 

 they did not continue long."^ 



1 Purchas's Pilgrims, iii. 998. 



2 Schomburgk's Hist, of Barhados, 040-3 ; nnd Coke's West Indies, 

 ii. :^13. 



