178 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 



pean Maxims lumbered forth to battle, and soon 

 my boots were covered in spite of the grease, all 

 sinking their mandibles deep into the leather. 



When I unpacked these boots this year I 

 found the heads and jaws of two Attas still 

 firmly attached, relics of some forgotten foray 

 of the preceding year. This mechanical, vise- 

 like grip, wholly independent of life or death, 

 is utilized by the Guiana Indians. In place of 

 stitching up extensive wounds, a number of these 

 giant Atta Maxims are collected, and their jaws 

 applied to the edges of the skin, which are drawn 

 together. The ants take hold, their bodies are 

 snipped off, and the row of jaws remains until 

 the wound is healed. 



Over and around the out-pouring soldiers, the 

 tiny workers ran and bit and chewed away at 

 whatever they could reach. Dozens of ants made 

 their way up to the cotton, but found the utmost 

 difficulty in clambering over the loose fluff. Now 

 and then, however, a needle-like nip at the back 

 of my neck, showed that some pioneer of these 

 shock troops had broken through, when I was 

 thankful that Attas could only bite and not sting 

 as well. At such a time as this, the greatest dif- 

 ference is apparent between these and the Eciton 



