1900] BRIEFER ARTICLES 129 
lichen, and the branches of the trees are thick with fern, bromelia, and 
moss epiphytes, characteristic of moist tropical mountains. The sunny 
clearings in these forests are simply alive with brilliant butterflies, and 
here and there across the paths are files of the leaf cutting A/fa ants, 
which Belt and MOller have so well described. Patches of Cuphza by 
the roadside are especially subject to the attacks of these interesting 
leaf cutters, and their intelligent movements as they cut and carry the 
leaves and tender stems to their nests are perfectly fascinating and 
worthy a much more serious study than has so far been given them. 
Beaten paths cleared of all dead leaves and fragments of stone can 
be traced for many yards through the forest, leading to the openings 
of the nests, down which in endless streams the busy cutters tumble 
leaf fragments, which they have brought balanced between the spines 
of their thoraci. : 
A few inches beneath the surface of the ground these leaf fragments 
are masticated and molded into the sponge-like mushroom-bed upon 
which the fungus grows that forms the “ Zoh/ rabt,”’ which is the neces- 
sary food of the Species. A one sided warfare is waged against these 
attas by a powerful species of black ant, over half an inch long, and 
my friend and I watched with keen interest the slaughter of a dozen 
or so of the leaf cutting workers by a single one of these assassins, who 
killed every individual he found, as a terrier would a rat. 
Although there are no laboratory facilities of any kind in Petrop- 
» its natural advantages for a botanist are exceptional. Proximity 
to the virgin forests, a climate in which one can work as comfortably as 
in New England, the most beautiful scenery imaginable, and a large 
and highly intellectual society of Europeans, make it a place without 
€qual in the mountains of the tropics. Living in the hotels en pension 
oo to about $2 a day for all expenses. A bicycle could be 
‘dike so Magee advantage in making excursions along the country 
oe me very good in the neighborhood of the town. Excur- 
ca ascatina, Itymarati, and the Organ mourtains are full of the 
biolos Seek and an abundance or material for morphological and 
Whe c Studies can be easily gathered together. 
ee ss orcovado is a tall mountain overlooking Rio, from which i 
village | unparalleled Interest is obtainable and Tijuaca 1s a smal : 
sttodnaas * the cul de sac between the hills behind it. The aoe. : 
es a. y dense forests, which are penetrated by many miles . 
gon road, forming doubtless the most extensive natura 
Olis 
