Evening star., 1896-07-04
MOVING GREEN BAND
A Curious Species Of Tropical Ants and
Their Habits.
In Orderly Array Like an Army, They
Garry Green Leaves in Their
Strong Jaws.


impressive manner that had been very
unobservant of the things Immediately
about me. 1t came about in this manner
was camping alone on the island of To-
bago. and had taken the trail leading from
my hut on the beach into the deep forest
path over which had walked at least
score Of times before-and I presently
reached a sept where the shade was so
dense that it made sort Of twilight Sud
denly there appeared to my astonished
eyes something that caused me to rub them
in doubt whether I was not dreaming; for
right in front Of me, crossing the path, was
band Of green, stretching across the
brown, dun-colored earth, and as my eyes
became accustomed to the dim light so
that could observe it more particularly, 1
saw that this green ribbon was moving
regularly along, like the belt over a factory
wheel. At first 1t seemed to be solid and
unbroken, but soon l detected many d.
visions in the line. and saw that it was
composed Of thousands of bits of leaves,
each about half an inch in dia meter Up-
on turning over tome of these leaf-frag-
ments, 1 found that the motive power OF
each one was a big red ant, who clung
to 1t desI Ierately, and as soon as released
took it's place in the ranks again. For
many minutes I watched the verdant pro-
cession. but 1t seemed no nearer the end
than when I first saw 1t. Out Of the
dusky woods on one side the path it
emerged, and into the depths on the other
1t disappeared. travelling tiresessly onward
to some destination unknown to me-
could not very well trace its course, the
forest being so dense; but there must have
been millions OF ants in the column, all
marching in perfect order, and evidently
with some definite end in view.
We know that these insects have excit-
ed the wonder and admiration of all obServ-
nro f~Av no t{v,N4 So14
ent. They seem to possess instincts which
border close upon reason; for they build
bridges, bore tunnels, excavate galleries;
some of them make slaves Of other ants,
that yield them milk. Their hfe-histories
have been carefully studied by some of the
most eminent Eaturalists. The very species
that had the good fortune to find crossing
my path that morning in the forest is de-
scribed by Mr.. Alfred Wallace, who found
1t In the Amazon region OF Brazil. 1t seems
to prefer a district where red earth is
abundant. and there 1t builds great mounds,
sometimes twenty feet across and three
four feet in height. These hilIocks,'' says
the famous naturalist just mentioned, ARE
riddled with holes in every direction. and
into them the ants may be seen dragging
little circular pieces Of leaf, which they
cut oft from particular trees preferred by
them Orange trees and leguminous shrubs
suffer most from their ravages, and these
they sometimes entirely strip Of their
foliage in night or two. Young plants,
too, suffer very much and cannot be grown
in some places on account of them. They
remain in one locality for long time; fer,
on my observing to a gentleman at a cattle
estate near Para how remarkably the track
Of these ants was worn across the pathway
and through the grass, he informed me
that he had observed them marching along
that very track for fifteen or twenty
years."
This, then, was the explanation of the
oyra ~ t.nY1 he frot III.
posed of ants carrying to their nests leaves
with which to line their cells. Those which
do this work are what is known in the
ant world as "neuters." They are very
strong and have tremendous jaws.
These insects, which are known as the
great-headed red ants. not only use their
powerful SCISSOR jaws upon the leaves of
trees and plants, but should they find a
tablecloth or handkerchief, or anything
Of that kind on the ground. will cut out
of it neat little semi-circular holes. taking
the pieces away to their nests. Whether
or not they use these bits Of cloth for lin
ing their nests, or put them to their prop
er use as napkins and handkerehiefs, I
cannot say.
At certain seasons Of the year, however,
the Indians Of Brazil make barbarous re-
prisals for all their devastations. AT one
time Of the year." says Mr.. Wallace, "the
female ants come out of their holes N great
Plumbers, and are caught by the Indians by
the basketful. The insects are very slug
gish, and never fly, though furnished at
the time with wings. When they come out
there is great excitement in the Indian vii
lage, all the young men, women and chill
dren setting themselves to catching the
'saubas.' rs they call them: They are kept
in calabashes and bottle-shaped baskets.
the mouths of which are stopped up with
few leaves. 1t is a rather singular sight
to see for the first time an Indian taking
his breakfast in the 'sauba season. The
insects are actually eaten alive, the ant
being held by Its head, as we would hold
q strawberry by Its stem, and the abdomen
bitten off. The only part eaten is the alb
domen. which is very rich and fatty, from
the mass of undeveloped eggs Having Sc
cured the edible part Of the ant, the tead
and thorax, with the wings and legs at
tached, are thrown to the ground, where
the wretched insect crawls about, as
though unaware Of the loss Of its poster
Tor extremtties. The Indians not only eat
them fresh, but also smoke and salt them
for future use, regarding them as the
choicest of their dainties.''
I was not aware Of all the uses to which
these ants could be put when they crossed
my trail in the woods; but IL had been.
doubt greatly .that-I should have consider
ed them available as articles Of diet, even
though my larder was not always supplied.