THE DRIVER ANT. 65 
Crawling to the end of a bough which overhangs the water, 
they form themselves into a living chain, and add to its 
length until the lowermost reaches the water. The long, 
widespread limbs of the insect can sustain it upon the 
water, especially when aided by its hold on the suspended 
comrade above. 
Ant after Ant pushes forward, and the floating portion of 
the chain is thus lengthened, until the free end is swept by 
the stream against the opposite bank. The Ant which forms 
the extremity of the chain then clings to a stick, stone, or 
root, and grasps it so firmly, that the chain is held tightly, 
and the Ants can pass over their companions as over a sus- 
pension bridge. In the illustration a column of Driver Ants 
is shown on the march. The vanguard of the column 
has crossed the stream by means of the living ladder, 
which is seen suspended from a branch, and extended 
across the water. The fragile tube which they build is 
also shown, and a few of the larger architects are drawn 
of the natural size. The smaller specimens will not 
emerge from the tunnel. 
There is a species of Ant in Ceylon which makes living 
bridges in precisely the same manner as the Driver Ant. 
In Mr. E. Sullivan’s “ Bungalow and the Tent” there is the 
following passage :—“ I have seen Ants form a bridge from 
one stick to another. I even saw one leave his companions, 
who were clustered at the end of a stick, unable to reach 
another at a short distance, make a considerable circuit, 
ascend the stick they were aiming at from another direc- 
tion, and by stretching out his body as far as possible, 
enable the pioneer of the main body to reach him, and 
‘ thus complete the chain of communication, by which the 
rest immediately crossed. It would be difficult to prove 
that this was not reason.” 
Finding that the comparatively gradual action of fire 
I 
