mphisbaena
takes up its abode in the nest for the convenience of devouring the
inhabitants, whenever unable to procure other food.

Some of the American ants are of great size. One species (the
Dinoponera grandis) is an inch and a quarter in length, and
proportionally stout. It is seen marching in single file through the
forest; but though of considerable size, its sting is not severe, while
there is nothing particularly interesting about its habits.

ECITONS.

There are, however, several species of foraging ants, called ecitons,
which move in vast bodies through the forest in search of prey. They
are carnivorous, and attack not only insects and grubs of all sorts, but
even other ants,--assaulting their citadels and carrying off the
slaughtered inhabitants. The natives, when they meet them in the
forest, hurry out of their way, to avoid their fierce attacks. Their
communities appear to be composed, besides males and females, of two
classes of workers, one with head and jaws very much larger than the
others.

One species of these foraging ants is known as the Eciton rapax, the
larger workers among which are half an inch in length.

The two common species of ecitons are, Eciton hamata and Eciton
drepanophora, which are very similar in their habits and appearance.

They are of the most pugnacious character, and a person incautiously
getting in their midst finds himself furiously attacked. They climb up
his legs, and, holding on by their pincer-like jaws, double in their
tails, and sting with all their might. The natives, on seeing them, cry
out, "Tauoca"--the name which they give to the ecitons--and scamper off
to a distance. The only way of getting rid of them is to pluck them out
one by one; but so securely do they fasten themselves to the skin, that
their head and jaws are left sticking to it.

As they advance through the forest, the creatures on which they prey
endeavour to get out of their way; but vast numbers of maggots,
caterpillars, larvae, and ants of other species fall victims to their
ferocity. They advance in a long column live or six deep, while thinner
columns forage on either flank, till they arrive at a mass of rotten
wood abounding in insect larvae, when they surround it, and do not again
move forward till every particle of food has been carried off!

When they discover a wasp's nest, they attack the papery covering to get
at the larvae pupae and newly-hatched wasps. In spite of the rag