EQUINOCTIAL AFRICA. ANTS. 101 



Mr. Smeathman, in describing the ravages of the ants 

 of Western Africa, written his account for those of tro- 

 pical America, he could not have more accurately or 

 more forcibly depicted their habits. This observation, 

 however, cannot apply to the wandering species he first 

 describes, since, although there is one particular ant in 

 Brazil of a gigantic size, its habits are altogether so- 

 litary ; at least, we never found it otherwise than singly, 

 wandering about sandy plains. 



(141.) The nests of the white ants — peculiar, ap- 

 parently, to Senegal and this part of Africa — form a 

 ■»2 'r'!^^ „«v A singular feature in its 



scenery: they rise up 

 from the plains in the 

 shape of sugar-loaves 

 (fg. 42.), but of such 

 a height as to appear 

 hke the vilJages of the 

 natives ; and are so 

 firmly constructed, 

 that they bear, with ease, the weight of three or four 

 men. Other races (like some in South America) build 

 their nests on trees, of an oval form ; while those of 

 another species (r.arrfo)are cylindrical, nearly three feet 

 high, the top terminated by a round vaulted dome, and 

 surrounded by a prominent terrace, — the whole not 

 unlike the shape of a young mushroom. 



(142.) Without entering farther into the details of 

 African entomology, it will be sufficient to observe, that 

 nearly all the species, and many of the genera, are 

 totally unknown in such parts of the continent as border 

 upon Asia or the Mediterranean ; while not even one 

 may be safely affirmed to inhabit the opposite coast of 

 America. The scorpions and other noxious insects are of 

 a terrific size, and of a most poisonous nature. The na- 

 tives appear to prize, and even domesticate, the land crabs, 

 which they keep in fenced yards, as we take care of fowls. 

 (143.) On the Mollusca, or shell-fish, we have 

 been furnished with some valuable information by 



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