Chap. Y. 
AOT-ARMIES. 
357 
the same family. There is not, however, a distinct 
separation of classes, individuals existing which connect 
together the two extremes. These Ecitons are seen in 
the pathways of the forest at all places on the banks 
of the Amazons, travelling in dense columns of countless 
thousands. One or other of them is sure to be met 
with in a woodland ramble, and it is to them probably, 
that the stories we read in books on South America 
, apply, of ants clearing houses of vermin, although I 
heard of no instance of their entering houses, their 
ravages being confined to the thickest parts of the 
forest. 
When the pedestrian falls in with a train of these 
ants, the first signal given him is a twittering and restless 
movement of small flocks of plain-coloured birds (ant- 
thrushes) in the jungle. If this be disregarded until he 
advances a few steps further, he is sure to fall into 
trouble, and find himself suddenly attacked by numbers 
of the ferocious little creatures. They swarm up his 
legs with incredible rapidity, each one driving its pin- 
cer-like jaws into his skin, and with the purchase thus 
obtained, doubling in its tail, and stinging with all its 
might. There is no course left but to run for it ; if 
he is accompanied by natives they will be sure to 
give the alarm, crying Tauoca !" and scampering at 
full speed to the other end of the column of ants. The 
tenacious insects who have secured themselves to his 
legs then have to be plucked off one by one, a task 
which is generally not accomplished without pulling 
them in twain, and leaving heads and jaws sticking 
in the wounds. 
