ssions of those destructive insects, each individual marching
along quickly with its green vegetable banner, sometimes eight or ten
times its own size and weight. In many cases the Saubas working aloft cut
the leaves and drop them on the ground, where other carriers are waiting
to convey them away. So numerous are the Saubas that in the forest one
can hear distinctly the incessant rustling sound of their clippers at
work. The Saubas use the leaves in order to construct thatched waterproof
roofs over the domes and turrets at the entrances of their extensive
subterranean galleries, which would otherwise become flooded during the
torrential rains prevalent in those latitudes. The roofs are constructed
with wonderful skill, each leaf being held in its place by granules of
earth. The galleries, of immense length and much ramified, are often as
much as 10 to 15 cm. in diameter. The entrances to them are usually kept
blocked, and are only opened when necessary. Above ground the Saubas make
wonderful wide roads, thousands of which can be seen everywhere in the
forest, and upon which endless processions go by day and night. The
workers of the Saubas can be divided into three orders not very clearly
defined, as units of intermediate grades are constantly met. The largest
of those workers possess extraordinarily massive, double-humped heads,
highly polished in the case of members which are visible on the surface,
and dull and hairy in the giant fellows which spend their lives within
the subterranean passages. These hairy Saubas display a single frontal
eye--not found in any of the other Saubas, and, as far as I know, in no
other kind of ant. They never come to the surface except when attacks are
made upon the galleries. Great excitement is shown in the colonies when
the winged ants, of extra large size--especially the females--start out
on their errand of propagating the race.

The workers with polished heads--fierce-looking brutes--do very little
actual work, but seem to be the superiors and protectors of the smaller
workers. In every case the body of all orders of Saubas is solidly built,
with the thorax and head protected by spikes.

Much as I disliked the Saubas for the endless trouble and suffering they
inflicted upon me, I could not help admiring their marvellous industry
and energy. No agriculture is possible where the Saubas are to be found,
and even where they do not exist in Central Brazil, if agriculture were
started th