64 HUNTING ANTS. 
their dwellings, towns, and their vicinity in a state of 
comparative cleanliness. The dread of them is upon 
every living thing. . 
‘Their entrance into a house is soon known by the 
simultaneous and universal movement of rats, mice, 
lizards, Blapside, Blattide, and of the numerous 
vermin that infest our dwellings. Not being agreed, 
they cannot dwell together, which modifies in a good 
measure the severity of the Drivers’ habits, and renders 
their visits sometimes (though very seldom in my view) 
desirable. : 
‘They move over the house with a good degree of 
order, unless disturbed, occasionally spreading abroad, 
ransacking one point after another, till, either having 
found something desirable, they collect upon it, when 
they may be destroyed en masse by hot water. .... 
‘When they are fairly in, we give up the house, 
and try to await with patience their pleasure, thankful, 
indeed, if permitted to remain within the narrow limits 
of our beds or chairs.’ 
These ants will soon destroy even the largest animal 
if it is confined. In one case Savage saw them kill near 
his house a snake four feet long. Indeed, it is said that. 
they have been known to destroy the great python, 
when gorged with food and powerless. The natives 
even believe that the python, after crushing its victim, 
does not venture to swallow it, until it has made a 
search, and is satisfied that there are no Drivers in the 
vicinity! It is very remarkable that these hunting 
