Chap. V. 
ECITON LEGIOI^^IS. 
353 
smallest, so that all are able to take part in the common 
labours of the colony. The chief employment of the 
species seems to be plundering the nests of a large and 
defenceless ant of another genus (Formica), whose 
mangled bodies I have often seen in their possession, as 
they were marching away. The armies of Eciton rapax 
are never very numerous. 
Eciton legionis. — Another species, E. legionis, agrees 
with E. rapax in having workers not rigidly divisible 
into two classes ; but it is much smaller in size, not 
differing greatly, in this respect, from our common 
English red ant (Myrmica rubra), which it also re- 
sembles in colour. The Eciton legionis lives in open 
places, and was seen only on the sandy campos of San- 
tarem. The movements of its hosts were, therefore, 
much more easy to observe than those of all other 
kinds, which inhabit solely the densest thickets ; its 
sting and bite, also, were less formidable than those of 
other species. The armies of E. legionis consist of 
many thousands of individuals, and move in rather 
broad columns. They are just as quick to break line, 
on being disturbed, and attack hurriedly and furiously 
any intruding object as the other Ecitons. The species 
is not a common one, and I seldom had good oppor- 
tunities of watching its habits. The first time I saw 
an army, was one evening near sunset. The column 
consisted of two trains of ants, moving in opposite 
directions ; one train empty-handed, the other laden 
with the mangled remains of insects, chiefly larvae and 
pupae of other ants. I had no difficulty in tracing the 
line to the spot from which they were conveying their 
VOL. II. A A 
