CHAPTER XXIV. 



SOCIAL INSECTS— (CONTINUED.) 



A curious Ant from India (Myrmica KirKi) — Locality of its nest— Description 

 of the nest, its material and mode of structure — A nocturnal misadventure — 

 The Driver Ant of Africa — Description of the insect — Reason for its name— 



. Its general habits — DostractiTe powers of the Driver Ant — ^How the insects 

 devour meat and convey it home — How they kill snakes — Native legend of 

 the" python — ^Their mode of march — Fatal effects of the simbeams — An extem- 

 porised arch — ^Method of escaping &om floods — Site of their habitation — Modes 

 of destroying them — Living' ladders and their structure— Method of crossing 

 streams — Tenacity of life — ^A decapitated Ant — Mode of biting — Description of 

 the insect— Cnrions nest of a Brazilian Wasp — Weight of the nest and method 

 of attachmmt — ^Variety of Folistes nest — Polities cUerrimtu and its singular 

 nest — Beantifdl structure of an unknown Foliates: 



Althottgh several species of Ants have been mentioned under 

 the title of burrowing insects, there are many which possess veiy 

 interesting habits, and which may here take their place among 

 the creatures which buUd social habitations. Among them is a 

 curious insect inhabiting India, and discovered by Colonel Sykes, 

 the well-known naturalist, who called it Myrmica Kirbii. 



This insect forms its nest on the branches of trees and shrubs, 

 and Colonel Sykes mentions that he has found their curious 

 habitation on the branches of the Kurwund shrub, Carissa 

 Carandas, and on the Mango-tree, Mangifera Indica. 



The nests are more or less spherical, and are about as large as 

 an ordinary foot-baU. The material of which they are made is 

 cow-dung, which is spread in flakes in a manner that reminds 

 the observer of the outside cover of a wasp's nest. The flakes 

 are placed upon each other like the tiles of a house, so that 

 although the insects can creep into the nest beneath the flakes, 

 no water can enter. On the summit of the nest is one veiy large 

 flake, that acts as a general roof to the structure. 



Within the nest are placed a number of cells made of the 

 same mateiial as the exterior, and in them may be found insects 

 in every state of development, eggs in one, larvae in another, and 



