ANT. 
447 
which frequently commit incredible ravages, and 
sting with great severity. The damage done in the 
West Indies about forty years ago by the sugar ant, 
Formica saccharivora Linn., almost exceeds belief. 
From the account in the thirtieth volume of the 
Philosophical Transactions, we learn that this pest 
first made its appearance on a sugar plantation at 
Petit Havre, in the Island of Grenada, and after- 
wards extended to the distance of twelve miles from 
this spot, destroying every sugar plantation in the 
way. Every attempt that was made by the planters 
to put a stop to these destructive insects proved in- 
effectual : and such was the general consternation at 
their ravages, that a reward of twenty thousand 
pounds was offered to that person who should dis- 
cover an effectual remedy for the evil. So large a 
sum, secured to the successful candidate by an act 
passed for the purpose, induced many to try their 
utmost to destroy the ants ; and all succeeded par- 
tially; but none gained the prize, since the destruc- 
tion of one myriad availed nothing, their place 
being immediately filled by another. Charcoal 
taken from the fire, and laid in quantities in their 
way, proved very destructive ; they crowded upon it 
with the greatest eagerness, and thus were burnt to 
death : but their numbers were so excessive that 
they soon extinguished it ; and although wherever 
the charcoal was laid the dead ants formed from 
their numbers a little hillock, yet their army did 
not appear to be diminished. The roads were 
literally covered with them for miles together; so 
