114 
ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 
the ends of the whole net being fastened to the earthen 
walls of the chamber. In each one of the squares, sup- 
ported by the web, sits one of the honey-making ants (II.). 
Here these honey makers live in perpetual confinement, 
and receive a constant supply of flowers, pollen, &c., which 
is continually being brought them by (I.), and which, by 
a process analogous to that performed by the bee, they 
convert into honey. 
Such is an epitome of the only account that the world 
has yet received of the habits and economy of this wonder- 
ful insect, whose instincts of military organization seem 
to be not less wonderful than those of the Ecitons, though 
in this case they are developed with reference to defence, 
and not to aggression. It is especially noteworthy that 
the black and yellow workers are believed to belong to 
6 two separate genera for if this is the case, it is the only 
one I can recall of two distinct species co-operating for a 
common end ; for even the nearest parallel which we find 
supplied in other species of ants maintaining aphides, is 
not quite the same thing, seeing that the aphides are 
merely passive agents, like Class II., of the honey-making 
ant, and not actively co-operating members of the com- 
munity, like Class I. 
Ecitons . — We have next to consider the habits of the 
wonderful 6 foraging,’ or, as it might be more appropriately 
called, the military ant of the Amazon. These insects, 
which belong to several species of the same genus, have 
been carefully watched by Belt, Bates, and other natural- 
ists. The following facts must therefore be accepted as 
fully established. 
Eciton legionis moves in enormous armies, and every- 
thing that these insects do is done with the most perfect 
instinct of military organization. The army marches in 
the form of a rather broad and regular column, hundreds 
of yards in length. The object of the march is the capture 
and plunder of other insects, &c., for food, and as the 
well-organised host advances, its devastating legions set 
all other terrestrial life at defiance. From the main 
column there are sent out smaller lateral columns, the 
composing individuals of which play the part of scouts, 
