466 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



SOCIAL INSECTS {Continued). 



A curious Ant from India (Myrmica Kirbii) — Locality of its Nest. — Description of 

 the Nest, its Material, and Mode of Structure. — A nocturnal Misadventure. — The 

 Driver Ant of Africa. — Description of the Insect. — Reason for its Name. — Its 

 general Habits. — Destructive Powers of the Driver Ant. — How the Insects devour 

 Meat and convey it Home. — How they kill Snakes. — Native Legend of the Py- 

 thon. — Their Mode of March. — Fatal Effects of the Sunbeams. — An extemporized 

 Arch. — Method of escaping from Floods — Site of their Habitation. — Modes of 

 destroying them. — Living Ladders and their Structure. — Method of crossing 

 Streams. — Tenacity of Life. — A decapitated Ant. — Mode of Biting. — Description 

 of the Insect. — Curious Nest of a Brazilian Wasp. — Weight of the Nest and Meth- 

 od of Attachment. — Variety of Polistes Nest. — Polistes aterrimus and its singular 

 Nest. — Beautiful Structure of an unknown Polistes. 



Although several species of Ants have been mentioned under 

 the title of burrowing insects, there are many which possess very 

 interesting habits, and which may here take their place among 

 the creatures which build social habitations. Among them is a 

 curious insect inhabiting India, and discovered by Colonel Sykes, 

 the well-known naturalist, who called it Myrmica Kirbii. 



This insect forms its nest on the branches of trees and shrubs, 

 and Colonel Sykes mentions that he has found their curious hab- 

 itation on the branches of the Kurwund shrub, Carissa Carandas, 

 and on the Mango-tree, Mangifera Indica. 



The nests are more or less spherical, and are about as large as 

 an ordinary foot-ball. The material of which they are made is 

 cowdung, which is spread in flakes in a manner that reminds the 

 observer of the outside cover of a wasp's nest. The flakes are 

 placed upon each other like the tiles of a house, so that, although 

 the insects can creep into the nest beneath the flakes, no water 

 can enter. On the summit of the nest is one very large flake, that 

 acts as a general roof to the structure. 



Within the nest are placed a number of cells made of the same 

 material as the exterior, and in them may be found insects in ev- 

 ery state of development, eggs in one, larvre in another, and pupa? 

 in a third. No provision seems to be laid up within the nest, so 

 that the inhabitants must depend on their daily excursions for 

 their food. 



