DKIVER ANTS. 451 



marches forward as before, in all the order of an intellectual 

 military discipline.'' 



Sometimes, as is usual in tropical countries, the rain descends 

 like a flood, converting in a few minutes whole tracts of country 

 into a temporary lake. The dwellings of the Driver Ant are 

 immediately deluged, and, but for a remarkable instinct which is 

 implanted in the insects, most of the Ants, and all the future 

 brood, would perish. As soon as the water encroaches upon 

 their premises, they nm together and agglomerate themselves 

 into balls, the weakest (or the "women and children," as the 

 natives call them) being in the middle, and the large and powerfid 

 insects on the outside. These balls are much lighter than water, 

 and consequently float on the surface, until the floods retire and 

 the insects can resume their place on dry land. 



The size of the ant-balls is various ; but they are, on an average, 

 as large as a full-sized cricket-baU. One of these curious balls 

 was cleverly caught in a handkerchief, put in a vessel, and sent 

 to Mr. F. Smith, of the British Museum, who has kindly pre- 

 sented me with several specimens of the insect. 



When a colony of these insects has been established near 

 a house, the inhabitants naturally endeavour to destroy it. The 

 habitation is very simple and artless, and generally consists of a 

 mere hole in a rock or bank, in which the creatures assemble. 

 They are very fond of usurping the sepulchi-es of the dead, which 

 are usually excavated in the sides of hills, and are about eighteen 

 inches in depth. 



The natives generally try to destroy the colony by heaping 

 dry leaves of the palm upon the dwelling, and setting Are 

 to the heap. When this plan was tried, it was found to be 

 very unsatisfiEtctory ; for the greater mass of the insects contrived 

 to make their escape, and were found upon neighbouring tarees, 

 clinging in heavy bunches and long festoons, which connected 

 one branch with another, and formed ladders over which the 

 insects could pass. These festoons were made in a very curious 

 manner. 



First, a single Ant clung tightly to a branch, and then a second 

 insect crawled cautiously down its suspended body, and hung to 

 its long, outstretched limbs. Others followed in rapid succession, 

 until they had formed a complete chain of Ants, which swung 

 about in the wind. One of the largest workers then took its 



gg2 



