64 HUNTING ANTS. 



their dwellings, towns, and their vicinity in a state ai 

 comparative cleanliness. The di"ead 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, Blapsidae, Blattidse, 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 

 ,'neinity! It is very remarkable that these hunting 



