280 
TROPICAL NATURE 
ITI 
especially of Zingiberaceous plants. When the nest is touched 
a number of the ants rush out, apparently in a great rage, 
stand erect, and make a loud rattling noise by tapping against 
the leaves. This no doubt frightens away many enemies, and 
is their only protection ; for though they attempt to bite, their 
jaws are blunt and feeble, and they do not cause any pain. 
Coming now to the stinging groups, we have first a number 
of solitary ants of the great genus Odontomachus, which are 
seen wandering about the forest and are conspicuous by their 
enormously long and slender hooked jaws. These are not 
powerful, but serve admirably to hold on by while they sting, 
which they do pretty severely. The Poneridse are another group 
of large-sized ants which sting acutely. They are very varied 
in species but are not abundant individually. The Ponera 
clavata of Guiana is one of the worst stinging ants known. 
It is a large species, frequenting the forests on the ground, and 
is much dreaded by the natives, as its sting produces intense 
pain and illness. I was myself stung by this or an allied species 
when walking barefoot in the forest on the Upper Rio Negro. 
It caused such pain and swelling of the leg that I had some 
difficulty in reaching home, and was confined to my room for two 
days. Sir Robert Schomburgh suffered more ; for he- fainted 
with the pain, and had an attack of fever in consequence. 
We now come to the Myrmecidse, which may be called 
the destroying ants, from their immense abundance and de- 
structive propensities. Many of them sting most acutely, 
causing a pain like that of a sudden burn, whence they are 
often called “ fire-ants.” They often swarm in houses and 
devour everything eatable. Isolation by water is the only 
security, and even this does not always succeed, as a little 
dust on the surface will enable the smaller species to get 
across. Oil is, however, an effectual protection, and after 
many losses of valuable insect specimens, for which ants have 
a special affection, I always used it. One species of this 
group, a small black Crematogaster, took possession of my 
house in New Guinea, building nests in the roof and making 
covered ways down the posts and across the floor. They also 
occupied the setting boards I used for pinning out my butter- 
flies, filling up the grooves with cells and storing them with 
small spiders. They were in constant motion, running over 
