ON-GRE HABIPS “OF THE CARINGA. 
(FORMICA GRACILIPES, GRAY.) 
BY F : 
aL ON RIDICEY, MA.,7 ELS. 
Every person in the Straits must be acquainted with the 
ferocious red ant commonly known as the Caringa, but although 
it is so abundant, and obnoxious, it seems that its ferocity and 
_ the sharpness of its bite are almost all the facts generally 
known about it. It is, however, a very interesting animal, not ~ 
only on account of its peculiar intelligence and courage, but 
also on account of its remarkable nest-building. I cannot find 
that the methods of making leaf nests as practiced by the 
Caringa has ever been described, and as it is very curious | 
will here submit some account of it. The nests are built in 
the leaves of any tree suitable to the ants, provided that the 
leaves are not too stiff to bend, or too small to fasten together 
conveniently. Usually a tree is selected which is attacked by 
one of the scale insects upon the honey-like exudations of 
which these ants live to a large extent. If possible the nest 
is built over leaves or stems infested by the scale insects, so as 
to include them in the nest, and in any case other scale insects 
are carried into the nest for the food supply when requisite. 
When the food supply is finished, the ants leave the nest and 
go to another tree. 
When anest is to be built a number of ants seize one edge of 
a leaf in their jaws and by sticking the claws of the hind legs 
into an adjoining leaf steadily draw the two edges together. 
Usually one ant commences the work; then others come up 
and assist, till finally a large number can be seen holding on 
tightly. The structure of the legs is evidently adapted for 
this work, asthey are remarkably long and furnished with very 
sharp hooked claws. If the edges of the two leaves are still 
too far apart, and one ant cannot reach both edges a chain 
is made. One ant grasps one edge with its jaws, another 
