178 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 
pean Maxims lumbered forth to battle, and soon 
my boots were covered in spite of the grease, all 
sinking their mandibles deep into the leather. 
When I unpacked these boots this year I 
found the heads and jaws of two Attas still 
firmly attached, relics of some forgotten foray 
of the preceding year. This mechanical, vise- 
like grip, wholly independent of life or death, 
is utilized by the Guiana Indians. In place of 
stitching up extensive wounds, a number of these 
giant Atta Maxims are collected, and their jaws 
applied to the edges of the skin, which are drawn 
together. The ants take hold, their bodies are 
snipped off, and the row of jaws remains until 
the wound is healed. 
Over and around the out-pouring soldiers, the 
tiny workers ran and bit and chewed away at 
whatever they could reach. Dozens of ants made 
their way up to the cotton, but found the utmost 
difficulty in clambering over the loose fluff. Now 
and then, however, a needle-like nip at the back 
of my neck, showed that some pioneer of these 
shock troops had broken through, when I was 
thankful that Attas could only bite and not sting 
as well. At such a time as this, the greatest dif- 
ference is apparent between these and the Eciton 
