FORAGING A\TS. 369 



nest. The materials of which the nest is made they pull to 

 pieces, and carry the fragments home, together with the inmates. 

 When the nest is completely sacked, the invaders move out in 

 small lines, which march to join the main body, and soon unite 

 with it. The discipline of the community is really wonderful. 

 Each insect knows its own place and its own work, and so perfect 

 is the organization, that during the busy season, the long train 

 resolves itself into two distinct columns, one going out to search 

 for food, and the other returning home laden with spoil. 



Another species, Eciton rapax, is also in the habit of attacking 

 the nest of various ants. In habits it is very similar to the pre- 

 ceding insect, and is chiefly remarkable for being the largest of 

 all the Ecitons, the average length being half an inch. 



The last species of Eciton which I shall mention, is that won- 

 derful species which is called the Blind Ant {Eciton erratica). 



I have already mentioned that in Eciton drepanophora the 

 eyes are very small, but in the Blind Ant they are absolutely 

 wanting, the homy covering of the head being quite uniform, 

 without the least trace of external eyes. Some naturalists have 

 thought that the Blind Ant may possess organs of vision, and 

 that the homy covering of the head is sufficiently transparent to 

 admit the light. That the insects can distinguish light from 

 darkness is perfectly true, for they display the greatest uneasiness 

 when brought into the light, and therefore it is possible that the 

 optic nerves may be in some degree affected, though there are 

 no external organs of vision. But the covering of the head is 

 certainly too thick and too opaque to permit distinct vision, and 

 that the insect can see an object clearly is manifestly impossible. 



These insects are wonderful buQders, and bear a great resem- 

 blance to the termites in many of their proceedings. The reader 

 will remember that the termites always choose to work under 

 cover, and proceed from one place to another by means of 

 galleries, which they construct with great rapidity. The Blind 

 Ant acts in a precisely similar manner, constmcting long 

 galleries through which it travels. These galleries are of small 

 dimensions, though their length is almost unlimited, and they 

 are made in a very flimsy manner, without the use of any 

 cement. If the observer wishes to capture some of the large- 

 headed officers, he can easily do so by breaking down any part 

 of the gallery. As soon as the unwelcome light streams in, ihp. 



B B 



