THE SUB-TROPICAL ZONE. 



181 



It is as well, before plucking a leaf from a tree, to make 

 sure that it is not covered with green ants, which live on 

 the trees and form their nests of the leaves ; for troublesome 

 intruders generally pay for their curiosity by getting se- 

 verely stung. Amongst other kinds of ants, there is one 

 like the white ants of the East Indies, which, not content 

 with one house to live in, has one on the trees as big as a 

 half-peck loaf, containing several apartments opening into 

 each other, and another on the ground, six feet in height 

 and almost as much in breadth, which is supposed to be the 

 wet-weather house, as they are built in such a manner as to 

 be proof against rain : the huts of the poor chocolate-co- 

 loured natives are far less commodious and artistic. 



