ANT. 
451 
the great black ant, as exceedingly venomous, and 
tells us that it stings or bites almost as bad as a 
scorpion. Another kind, of ayellow colour, is scarcely 
less to be dreaded ; since they cover the trees in 
every direction, and fall from the boughs upon the 
passing traveller before he is aware of the mischief. 
The nests of this species are placed between the 
limbs of great trees, and, if we may credit Dam- 
pier, are, some of them, as large as a hogshead. 
These are their winter habitations, to which they 
retire as soon as the autumnal rains commence ; but 
in the dry season they leave their nests, and swarm 
all over the woodlands, where their method of 
travelling in a line has worn extensive paths of 
three or four inches broad. They bring home 
heavy burthens on their backs, but all their loads 
seem to consist of the same substance, and of 
equal size. Dampier assures us he never saw them 
return with any thing but pieces of green leaves, 
and these of such a size as to cover the body of the 
labouring insect, who, nevertheless, pressed forward 
with vigour, followed by a host of companions with 
their leaves upon their shoulders, so that the path 
looked perfectly green, and gave to the whole a very 
pleasing effect. 
2 G 2 
