64 SOCIAL HABITATIONS. 
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 presented 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 
sepulchres 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 heap- 
ing dry leaves of the palm upon the dwelling, and setting 
fire to the heap. When this plan was tried, it was found 
to be very unsatisfactory; for the greater mass of the 
insects contrived to make their escape, and were found upon 
neighbouring trees, 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 stand im- 
mediately below the chain, held firmly to the branch with 
its hind limbs, and dexterously caught with its fore-legs 
the end of the living chain as it swung past. The ladder 
was thus completed, and fixed ready for the transit of in- 
sects ; and, in a similar way, the whole tree was covered 
with festoons of Ants, until it was blackened with their 
sable bodies. 
They can even cross streams by means of these ladders. 
