DRIVER ANTS. 4/ < 



(i I then cut the branch so much that during the day it broke ; 

 but they still went on at the rate of a drop every five seconds, 

 while another colony on a branch of the same tree gave a drop 

 every seventeen seconds only, or at the rate of about ten ounces 

 four and one fifth drams in every twenty-four hours. I finally 

 cut off the branch ; but this was too much for their patience, for 

 they immediately decamped, as insects will do from either a dead 

 branch or a dead animal. The presence of greater moisture in the 

 air increased the power of these distillers ; the period of greatest 

 activity was in the morning, when the air and every thing else 

 was charged with dew." 



Three species of Driver Ant are known, namely, the common 

 species, which has already been described, Anomma Burmeisteri, 

 and a smaller species, Anomma rubella. 



The two first insects are deep, shining black, and resemble each 

 other so closely that an unpracticed eye could not distinguish be- 

 tween them, while the last may be easily known by its brownish- 

 red hue. 



The specimens which have already been mentioned are now 

 before me, and curious beings they are. The largest are black, 

 with a slight tinge of red, and have an enormous head, almost 

 equaling one third of the entire length. It is deep and wide as 

 well as long, as indeed is necessary for the attachment of the 

 muscles which move the enormous jaws. These weapons are 

 sharply curved, and when closed they cross each other, so that 

 when the insect has fairly fixed itself, its hold can not be loosened 

 unless the jaws are opened. It is useless, therefore, to kill the 

 ant, for its head will retain its grasp in death as well as in life. 

 Besides the sharp points of the mandibles, they are farther armed 

 with a central tooth, which is so formed that when the mandibles 

 are quite closed, and the points crossed to the utmost, the tips of 

 the central teeth meet and form another means of grasping. 



There is no vestige of external eyes, and even the half-inch 

 power of the microscope fails to show the slightest indication of 

 visual organs. As, however, the horny coat of the head is suffi- 

 ciently translucent to permit the articulation of the jaws to be 

 seen through it, when a very powerful light is thrown upon the 

 head and the eyes of the observer are well sheltered, it is possible 

 that the insect may have some sense of sight, and, at all events, 

 will be able to distinguish light from darkness. 



The limbs are of a paler red than the body, and although they 



