n. The skin was there
and the huge bones and monstrous skull, but nearly all the flesh had
been eaten away by myriads of ants, which swarmed about it. So engaged
were they in their work of destruction, that they did not attack us.

"Why, they must be drivers," said David, "the _bashikouay_, as the
natives call them. They have gained their English name by driving every
other species of the animal creation out of their way."

They were not much larger than the common English ant, of a dark brown
colour. David, jumping down, caught one, and showed us that he had a
sharp head, terminating in a pair of horizontal nippers--very like those
of the warrior ants. In taking one up another had caught hold of his
little finger, and gave it a nip which drew blood. Senhor Silva told us
that they usually traverse the country by day and night, in trains
nearly half a mile long, though only a few inches wide, and, as it
passes under the grass, presents the appearance of a huge snake. They
also, like the warrior ants, have soldiers who march by the side of the
regular column, and the instant any danger appears hurry forward, when
the column is either halted or turned backward. Should the difficulty
be removed, it again advances. One of their most curious proceedings is
the formation by the soldiers of a perfect arch, into which thousands of
them weave their bodies, expanding across the whole width of a path
where danger is apprehended. Under the arch the females and the
labourers who bear the larva; then pass in comparative safety. It is
formed in the following manner. One ant stands upright, and then
another climbs up and interlocks its feet with the fore-feet of the
first, and then another climbs up, somewhat in the fashion of acrobats.
Another couple form the base of the arch on the opposite side, and then
others, stretching themselves longways, form what may be called
transverse beams, to keep the two sides connected. When thus formed,
the creatures hold together so tenaciously, that the whole could be
lifted off the ground without breaking. If attacked, they spread
themselves on the ground over a space of thirty or more feet, across
which neither man nor beast can pass with impunity. It is difficult to
force a horse through them; and a dog will never venture, unless the
space is sufficiently narrow to enable him to cross by a bound. He
knows well that, should he fall, they would set upon him; and, before
many hours w