of some Species of Bra ziUa7i A7its. 165 



its immense processions ; tlic columns of the other species I have 

 always observed marching in the dense thorny thickets of the 

 forest, so that the same facilities for observation do not offer 

 themselves, and no human endurance can sustain the overwhelm- 

 ing attacks, the cruel sting and bite of these formidable insects. 

 In this smaller species, although they climb by hundreds over one's 

 person, in the same sudden way, the sting is not at all formidable. 

 The first time I met with this species, it was near sunset : I found 

 the column consisted of two trains of ants, moving in opposite 

 directions ; one train empty handed, the other laden with a variety 

 of the mangled remains of insects, chiefly however the larvae and 

 pupae of ants. I had no difficulty in tracing the line to the spot 

 from which they were conveying their prey ; this was in a low 

 thicket, the Ecitons were moving rapidly about a heap of dead 

 leaves; the tropical twilight was deepening, and I deferred 

 further examination till the next day. 



" On the following morning I found no trace of the ants in the 

 place I had left them the preceding day, nor in the thicket were 

 there any signs of insects of any description : but, at the distance 

 of eighty or one hundred yards, 1 found them again, evidently 

 engaged on another piece of business, a razzia of a similar kind, 

 but requiring other resources of their instinct ; they were eagerly 

 occupied on the face of an inclined bank of light earth, excavat- 

 ing mines, whence, from the depth of eight or ten inches, they 

 were extracting the bodies of a bulky species oi Formica. It was 

 curious to see them crowding round the orifices of the mines, and 

 assisting their comrades to lift out the bodies of the Formica'; the 

 latter, being too bulky for one Ecilon to carry, it was torn into 

 pieces, and the laden marauders forthwith started off with their 

 booty. On excavating the earth about the mines, I found the 

 Formicce at the depth of about eight inches, also their larvae and 

 pupae. As fast as I excavated, the Ecitons rushed in, seizing the 

 ants ; I had great difficulty in securing a few specimens, they 

 disputed them with me even in my hands : in excavating their 

 mines, they assisted one another in so systematic a manner, with 

 an appearance of so much intelligent co-operation, that it was 

 truly a wonderful sight : those in the mines lifted up the pellets 

 of earth to others stationed at the entrance, who forthwith con- 

 veyed them to a few inches distance from the place. 



" I now turned towards the line of ants returning with their 

 spoil of mutilated remains. For some distance there were many 

 lines of them moving along the declivity of the bank, but at a 

 short distance these converged ; 1 then traced them to a large 



