22 



PARA 



that the entire care devolves. What a wonderfully- 

 organized community is that of the ant 1 The workers 

 are also the chief agents in carrying out the different 

 migrations of the colonies, which are of vast importance 

 to the dispersal and consequent prosperity of the species. 

 The successful d^but of the winged males and females de- 

 pends likewise on the workers. It is amusing to see the 

 activity and excitement which reign in an ant's nest 

 when the exodus of the winged individuals is taking place. 

 The workers clear the roads of exit, and show the most 

 lively interest in their departure, although it is highly 

 improbable that any of them will return to the same 

 colony. The swarming or exodus of the winged males 

 and females of the Saiiba ant takes place in January and 

 February, that is, at the commencement of the rainy 

 season. They come out in the evening in vast numbers, 

 causing quite a commotion in the streets and lanes. They 

 are of very large size, the female measuring no less than 

 two-and-a-quarter inches in expanse of wing ; the male 

 is not much more than half this size. They are so eagerly 

 preyed upon by insectivorous animals that on the morning 

 after their flight not an individual is to be seen, a few 

 impregnated females alone escaping the slaughter to 

 found new colonies. 



At the time of our arrival. Para had not quite recovered 

 from the effects of a series of revolutions, brought about 

 by the hatred which existed between the native Brazilians 

 and the Portuguese ; the former, in the end, calling to 

 their aid the Indian and mixed coloured population. 

 The number of inhabitants of the city had decreased, 

 in consequence of these disorders, from 24,500 in 18 19, 

 to 15,000 in 1848. Although the public peace had not 

 been broken for twelve years before the date of our visit, 

 confidence was not yet completely restored, and the 

 Portuguese merchants and tradesmen would not trust 

 themselves to live at their beautiful country-houses or 

 rocinhas which lie embosomed in the luxuriant shady 

 gardens around the city. No progress had been made 

 in clearing the second-growth forest which had grown 

 over the once cultivated grounds and now reached the 

 end of all the suburban streets. The place had the as- 

 pect of one which had seen better days ; the public 

 buildings, including the palaces of the President and 



