80 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 
out of reach of the ants, so I focused carefully 
on one of the soldiers and watched the entire 
process. The small ants scrubbed and scraped 
him with their jaws, licking him and removing 
every particle of dirt. One even crawled under 
him and worked away at his upper leg-joints, 
for all the world as a mechanic will creep under 
a car. Finally, I was delighted to see him do 
what no car ever does, turn completely over and 
lie quietly on his back with his legs in air, while 
his diminutive helpers overran him and gradually 
got him into shape for future battles and forag- 
ing expeditions. 
On this resting-stage, within well-defined lim- 
its, were dozens of groups of two cleaning one 
another, and less numerous parties of the tiny 
professionals working their hearts out on bat- 
tle-worn soldiers. It became more and more ap- 
parent that in the creed of the army ants, clean- 
liness comes next to military effectiveness. 
Here and there I saw independent individuals 
cleaning themselves and going through the most 
un-ant-like movements. They scraped their jaws 
along the board, pushing forward like a dog try- 
ing to get rid of his muzzle; then they turned 
on one side and passed the opposite legs again 
