Fishes. 4831 



" On the borders of the river Tapajos, this is the most dreaded ant, 

 the terrible scourge of the river Tapajos. In 1852, I found, along 

 the shores of the long sandy bays of the Tapajos, a continuous line 

 of sediment, eight or ten miles in length, formed entirely of the bodies 

 of the winged individuals of this species. It was the end of the 

 rainy season, and the swarms had been carried away by the squalls of 

 wind into the river, and had subsequently been cast ashore by the 

 swell. This species is exclusively found on sandy soils, in open, 

 semi-cultivated or neglected places: in the shade of the woods not an 

 individual is to be found; careful cultivation and weeding expels 

 them from limited spaces; they increase only in the neighbourhood 

 of deserted houses, or unweeded plantations ; consequently, they are 

 a scourge only to the lazy and worthless people who inhabit the 

 shores of this magnificent river. Sometimes they increase to such an 

 extent that not an inch of ground is free from them ; they dispute 

 every fragment of food with the inhabitants ; clothing they destroy for 

 the sake of the starch, and attack persons with such cruel fury that 

 the lords of the creation are obliged to beat a retreat, and the village 

 becomes deserted. Their sting is very severe ; the Brazilians com- 

 pare it to the prick of a red-hot needle or point, hence the name 

 | Formiga de fogo.' Their Formicarium is subterranean, and in the 

 village of Aveyros the unweeded streets are covered with their 

 mounds : there are one or two on the floor of the church, — it is im- 

 possible, in fact, to avoid an attack. The 'Formiga de fogo' lets no 

 one have any repose ; one's legs are instantly covered with them, and 

 they appear to attack in sheer malice. I was frequently obliged to 

 retreat to the house of the Commandant, where it was my daily 

 custom to enjoy an evening chat with the priest and a few neigh- 

 bours ; seated on chairs, with stools to support our feet, the ground 

 being in full possession of the spiteful Myrmica ssevissima." 



Artificial Rearing of Salmon, and some of its Results. 



Another most important point has just been established in regard 

 to the history and habits of the salmon, in connexion with the very 

 interesting experiments which have for nearly two years been carried 

 on at Stormontfield. On Friday morning last, a beautiful grilse of 

 5J lbs. weight was caught on one of the City of Perth's fishings at 

 Darry Island, bearing perfectly indubitable evidence of being one of 



