132 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



10. " They seem to attack persons out of sheer malice. 

 If we stood a few moments in the street, even at a distance 

 from their nests, we were sure to be overrun with them, and 

 severely punished, for the moment an ant touched the skin 

 lie secured himself with his jaws, doubled in his tail, and 

 stung with all his might. When we were seated on chairs 

 in the evenings, in front of the house, to enjoy a chat with 

 our neighbors, we had stools to support our feet, the legs of 

 which, as well as those of the chairs, were well anointed 

 with the balsam. The cords of hammocks were obliged to 

 be smeared in the same way, to prevent the ants from pay- 

 ing sleepers a visit." 



CARNIVOROUS AND AGRICULTURAL ANTS. 



1. Du Chaillu has given an admirable description of 

 the driver or army ant of tropical Africa. These ants col- 

 lect in vast armies and march off togetner in search of food. 

 They belong to the true carnivora, and do no injury to 

 vegetation. The marching column is usually about two 

 inches wide, and it often is several miles in length. They 

 shun the glare of the day, and take up their line of travel by 

 night, or in the dense shade of the woods. When possible, 

 they form covered passage-ways, as through hollow logs 

 and under the fallen leaves, and through these the entire 

 army moves. They attack every form of animal life. 

 When they strike a decayed log, or a heap of vegetable 

 refuse, they at once spread out and enter every crevice, 

 so that the object appears to be a living mass of ants inside 

 and out. They find and instantly devour every insect, grub, 

 and larva which may exist, and then they fall into line and 

 resume their march. 



2. Lions, tigers, and elephants flee at their approach, 



