162 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 



wind frustrates them, for they cannot reef. 

 When a gale arises and sweeps an exposed por- 

 tion of the trail, their only resource is to cut 

 away all sail and heave it overboard. A sudden 

 downpour reduces a thousand banners and wav- 

 ing, bright-colored petals to debris, to be trod- 

 den under foot. Sometimes, after a ten-minute 

 storm, the trails will be carpeted with thousands 

 of bits of green mosaic, which the outgoing hordes 

 will trample in their search for more leaves. On 

 a dark night little seems to be done ; but at dawn 

 and dusk, and in the moonlight or clear star- 

 light, the greatest activity is manifest. 



Attas are such unpalatable creatures that they 

 are singularly free from dangers. There is a 

 tacit armistice between them and the other labor- 

 unions. The army ants occasionally make use 

 of their trails when they are deserted; but when 

 the two great races of ants meet, each antennses 

 the aura of the other, and turns respectfully 

 aside. When termites wish to traverse an Atta 

 trail, they burrow beneath it, or build a covered 

 causeway across, through which they pass and 

 repass at will, and over which the Attas trudge, 

 uncaring and unconscious of its significance. 



Only creatures with the toughtest of diges- 



