100 ON THE GEOGRAPHY OF ANIMALS. 



continent ; where the hot^ dry, sandy plains, so con- 

 genial to the habits of these insects, occupy such a large 

 portion of the surface. Similar deserts occur in Asia, 

 from whence have issued forth armies of locusts nearly 

 as formidable. 



(140.) The myriads of ants, which s.varm in 

 Western Africa, no less than in tropical America, can 

 scarcely he conceived by those who have never visited 

 these countries. " Those of Africa," Mr. Smeathman 

 continues, " are of numerous species, but all seem intent 

 on removing from the face of nature every animal or 

 vegetable substance no longer necessary or useful. Like 

 the destroying angel, they walk steadily forward in the 

 path ordained them, sparing neither magnitude nor 

 beauty, neither the living nor the dead. One species, 

 ■which seems at times to have no fixed habitation, 

 ranges about in vast armies. By being furnished with 

 very strong jaws, they can attack whatever animal im- 

 pedes their progress ; and there is no escape but by im- 

 mediate flight, or instant retreat to the water." The 

 inhabitants of the negro villages, as IVIr. Smeathman as- 

 sures us he has himself vi'itnessed, are frequently obliged to 

 abandon their dwellings, taking with them their children, 

 &c., and wait until the ants have passed. Besides these 

 ants, nearly twenty other species are known, of different 

 sizes and colours, each possessing peculiar habits. Some 

 attack the collections of the botanist; and, in spite of 

 weights laid upon his books of dried plants, get in, 

 cut the leaves and flovvers to pieces, and carry them 

 away. Others attack all sorts of victuals. Mr. Smeath- 

 man has had four large sugar dishes emptied in one 

 night, whenever the least opening has been left or 

 made. Some assail the sideboard, and cover every 

 glass that has had wine or punch left in it. Nay, in- 

 numerable multitudes frequently ascend the table, and 

 drown themselves in the very bowls and vessels before 

 you." * To this animated entomological picture we 

 attach the most implicit confidence, inasmuch as, had 



• Pref. to Drury's Insects, j-ol. iii. 



