472 Mr. F. Smith on 



noticed; when on their line of march a narrow stream requires to 

 be crossed, they throw themselves across and form a tunnel, — a living 

 tunnel, — connecting two trees or high bushes on opposite sides of the 

 stream ; this is done with great speed and is effected by a great 

 number of ants, each of which clings with its fore-claws to its next 

 door neighbour's body, or hind claws ; thus they form a high, 

 safe tubular bridge, through which the whole vast regiment 

 marches in regular order. 



" They are at least half an inch long, and are armed with power- 

 ful fore-legs and sharp jaws. They are red or dark-brown in 

 colour. Their numbers are so great that one does not like to 

 enter into calculations ; but I have seen one continuous line pass- 

 ing at a good speed a particular place for twelve hours." 



That the Bashikouay ant is identical with the Anomma rubellum, 

 I have not any doubt whatever, and I am equally satisfied that 

 the ants which were found in the folds of the skin of the Gorilla 

 are identical with Dr. Savage's insect. 



I have previously remarked upon the singularity of the two 

 accounts by Dr. Savage and M. du Chaillu, corresponding in so 

 remarkable a degree in the order of succession in which the 

 various portions of the history of the economy of the ants is related. 

 We have now for a minute to point out in what they really differ : 

 First, then, we are told by Dr. Savage that they carry off" their 

 prey ; this is certainly the habit of every ant we have ever seen 

 or read of; M. du Chaillu says they do not carry away prey of 

 any kind, but eat all on the spot. In the next place Dr. Savage 

 says, " if they are in their progress exposed to the heat of the 

 sun, they construct arches, or covered ways;" M. du Chaillu 

 tells us, they " build under-ground tunnels from four to five feet 

 under ground;" certainly very remarkable and unnecessary, if a 

 covered way answers the purpose. Dr. Savage next informs us 

 that, " if a small stream is to be passed, the ants throw a bridge 

 of their own bodies across, over which the array passes." In what 

 does M. du Chaillu differ in his account? He says, when a nar- 

 row stream is to be crossed, they throw themselves across and 

 form a tunnel, — a living tunnel, — a tubular bridge, through which 

 the whole vast regiment passes ; these regiments, he tells us, are 

 sometimes twelve hours in passing. I cannot imagine how the 

 tubular bridge is formed at all, and, if formed, how it is kept 

 intact without collapsing, particularly if the army were to be twelve 

 hours in passing through it. 



After a careful comparison of M. du Chaillu's account of the 

 Bashikouay ant with that by Dr. Savage of Anomma rubellum, I can- 



