470 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



from the teeth of the Driver Ants. Fowls they destroy in num- 

 bers, killing in a single night all the inhabitants of the hen-roost, 

 and, having destroyed them, have a curious method of devouring 

 them. 



The Rev. Dr. Savage, who has experimented upon these formi- 

 dable insects, killed a fowl and gave it to the Ants. At first they 

 did not seem to pay much attention to it, but he soon found that 

 they were in reality making their preparations. Large parties of 

 the insects were detached for the purpose of preparing a road, 

 and worked with the assiduity which seems to be a characteristic 

 of these energetic insects. Numbers of them were employed in 

 smoothing the road to the nest by removing every obstacle out 

 of the way, until, by degrees, a tolerably level road was obtained. 

 The Ants are possessed of strength which seems gigantic when 

 compared with their size, carrying away sticks four or five times 



