292 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 



There were several places which made excel- 

 lent points of observation, and here we watched 

 and marveled. Careful measurement of the great 

 circle showed a circumference of twelve hundred 

 feet. We timed the laden Ecitons and found 

 that they averaged two to two and three-quarter 

 inches a second. So a given individual would 

 complete the round in about two hours and a 

 half. Many guests were plodding along with the 

 ants, mostly staphylinids of which we secured five 

 species, a brown histerid beetle, a tiny chalcid, 

 and several Phorid flies, one of which was winged. 



The fat Histerid beetle was most amusing, get- 

 ting out of breath every few feet, and abruptly- 

 stopping to rest, turning around in its tracks, 

 standing almost on its head, and allowing the 

 swarm of ants to run up over it and jump off. 

 Then on it would go again, keeping up the ter- 

 rific speed of two and a half inches a second for 

 another yard. Its color was identical with the 

 Ecitons' armor, and when it folded up, nothing 

 could harm it. Once a worker stopped and an- 

 tennaed it suspiciously, but aside from this, it was 

 accepted as one of the line of marchers. Along 

 the same route came the tiny Phorid flies, wing- 

 less but swift as shadows, rushing from side to 



