the naturalist on the river amazons-第91部分

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qualities　of　the　road。　I　did　not　see　them　change　their　position；　or　take　any　notice　of　their　small…headed　comrades　marching　in　the　column；　and　when　I　disturbed　the　line；　they　did　not　prance　forth　or　show　fight　so　eagerly　as　the　others。　These　large…headed　members　of　the　community　have　been　considered　by　some　authors　as　a　soldier　class；　like　the　similarly…armed　caste　in　termites　　but　I　found　no　proof　of　this；　at　least　in　the　present　species；　as　they　always　seemed　to　be　rather　less　pugnacious　than　the　worker…minors；　and　their　distorted　jaws　disabled　them　from　fastening　on　a　plane　surface　like　the　skin　of　an　attacking　animal。　I　am　inclined；　however；　to　think　that　they　may　act；　in　a　less　direct　way；　as　protectors　of　the　community；　namely；　as　indigestible　morsels　to　the　flocks　of　ant…thrushes　which　follow　the　marching　columns　of　these　Ecitons；　and　are　the　most　formidable　enemies　of　the　species。　It　is　possible　that　the　hooked　and　twisted　jaws　of　the　large…headed　class　may　be　effective　weapons　of　annoyance　when　in　the　gizzards　or　stomachs　of　these　birds；　but　I　unfortunately　omitted　to　ascertain　whether　this　was　really　the　fact。

The　life　of　these　Ecitons　is　not　all　work；　for　I　frequently　saw　them　very　leisurely　employed　in　a　way　that　looked　like　recreation。　When　this　happened；　the　place　was　always　a　sunny　nook　in　the　forest。　The　main　column　of　the　army　and　the　branch　columns；　at　these　times；　were　in　their　ordinary　relative　positions；　but；　instead　of　pressing　forward　eagerly；　and　plundering　right　and　left；　they　seemed　to　have　been　all　smitten　with　a　sudden　fit　of　laziness。　Some　were　walking　slowly　about；　others　were　brushing　their　antennae　with　their　forefeet；　but　the　drollest　sight　was　their　cleaning　one　another。　Here　and　there　an　ant　was　seen　stretching　forth　first　one　leg　and　then　another；　to　be　brushed　or　washed　by　one　or　more　of　its　comrades；　who　performed　the　task　by　passing　the　limb　between　the　jaws　and　the　tongue；and　finishing　by　giving　the　antennae　a　friendly　wipe。　It　was　a　curious　spectacle；　and　one　well　calculated　to　increase　one's　amazement　at　the　similarity　between　the　instinctive　actions　of　ants　and　the　acts　of　rational　beings；　a　similarity　which　must　have　been　brought　about　by　two　different　processes　of　development　of　the　primary　qualities　of　mind。　The　actions　of　these　ants　looked　like　simple　indulgence　in　idle　amusement。　Have　these　little　creatures；　then；　an　excess　of　energy　beyond　　what　is　required　for　labours　absolutely　necessary　to　the　welfare　of　their　species；　and　do　they　thus　expend　it　in　mere　sportiveness；　like　young　lambs　or　kittens；　or　in　idle　whims　like　rational　beings？　It　is　probable　that　these　hours　of　relaxation　and　cleaning　may　be　indispensable　to　the　effective　performance　of　their　harder　labours；　but　while　looking　at　them；　the　conclusion　that　the　ants　were　engaged　merely　in　play　was　irresistible。

Eciton　praedator。This　is　a　small　dark…reddish　species；　very　similar　to　the　common　red　stinging…ant　of　England。　It　differs　from　all　other　Ecitons　in　its　habit　of　hunting；　not　in　columns；　but　in　dense　phalanxes　consisting　of　myriads　of　individuals；　and　was　first　met　with　at　Ega；　where　it　is　very　common。　Nothing　in　insect　movements　is　more　striking　than　the　rapid　march　of　these　large　and　compact　bodies。　Wherever　they　pass　all　the　rest　of　the　animal　world　is　thrown　into　a　state　of　alarm。　They　stream　along　the　ground　and　climb　to　the　summits　of　all　the　lower　trees；　searching　every　leaf　to　its　apex；　and　whenever　they　encounter　a　mass　of　decaying　vegetable　matter；　where　booty　is　plentiful；　they　concentrate；　like　other　Ecitons；　all　their　forces　upon　it；　the　dense　phalanx　of　shining　and　quickly…moving　bodies；　as　it　spreads　over　the　surface；　looking　like　a　flood　of　dark…red　liquid。　They　soon　penetrate　every　part　of　the　confused　heap；　and　then；　gathering　together　again　in　marching　order；　onward　they　move。　All　soft…bodied　and　inactive　insects　fall　an　easy　prey　to　them；　and；　like　other　Ecitons；　they　tear　their　victims　in　pieces　for　facility　of　carriage。　A　phalanx　of　this　species；　when　passing　over　a　tract　of　smooth　ground；　occupies　a　space　of　from　four　to　six　square　yards；　on　examining　the　ants　closely　they　are　seen　to　move；　not　altogether　in　one　straightforward　direction；　but　in　variously　spreading　contiguous　columns；　now　separating　a　little　from　the　general　mass；　now　re…uniting　with　it。　The　margins　of　the　phalanx　spread　out　at　times　like　a　cloud　of　skirmishers　from　the　flanks　of　an　army。　I　was　never　able　to　find　the　hive　of　this　species。

Blind　Ecitons。I　will　now　give　a　short　account　of　the　blind　species　of　Eciton。　None　of　the　foregoing　kinds　have　eyes　of　the　facetted　or　compound　structure　such　as　are　usual　in　insects；　and　which　ordinary　ants　（Formica）　are　furnished　with；　but　all　are　provided　with　organs　of　vision　composed　each　of　a　single　lens。　Connecting　them　with　the　utterly　blind　species　of　the　genus；　is　a　very　stout…limbed　Eciton；　the　E。　crassicornis；　whose　eyes　are　sunk　in　rather　deep　sockets。　This　ant　goes　on　foraging　expeditions　like　the　rest　of　its　tribe；　and　attacks　even　the　nests　of　other　stinging　species　（Myrmica）；　but　it　avoids　the　light；　moving　always　in　concealment　under　leaves　and　fallen　branches。　When　its　columns　have　to　cross　a　cleared　space；　the　ants　construct　a　temporary　covered　way　with　granules　of　earth；　arched　over；　and　holding　together　mechanically；　under　this；　the　procession　passes　in　secret；　the　indefatigable　creatures　repairing　their　arcade　as　fast　as　breaches　are　made　in　it。

Next　in　order　comes　the　Eciton　vastator；　which　has　no　eyes；　although　the　collapsed　sockets　are　plainly　visible；　and；　lastly；　the　Eciton　erratica；　in　which　both　sockets　and　eyes　have　disappeared；　leaving　only　a　faint　ring　to　mark　the　place　where　they　are　usually　situated。　The　armies　of　E。　vastator　and　E。　erratica　move；　as　far　as　I　could　learn；　wholly　under　covered　roads　the　ants　constructing　them　gradually　but　rapidly　as　they　advance。　The　column　of　foragers　pushes　forward　step　by　step　under　the　protection　of　these　covered　passages；　through　the　thickets；　and　upon　reaching　a　rotting　log；　or　other　promising　hunting…　ground；　pour　into　the　crevices　in　search　of　booty。　I　have　traced　their　arcades；　occasionally；　for　a　distance　of　one　or　two　hundred　yards；　the　grains　of　earth　are　taken　from　the　soil　over　which　the　column　is　passing；　and　are　fitted　together　without　cement。　It　is　this　last…mentioned　feature　that　distinguishes　them　from　the　similar　covered　roads　made　by　Termites；　who　use　their　glutinous　saliva　to　cement　the　grains　together。　The　blind　Ecitons；　working　in　numbers；　build　up　simultaneously　the　sides　of　their　convex　arcades；　and　contrive；　in　a　surprising　manner；　to　approximate　them　and　fit　in　the　key…stones　without　letting　the　loose　uncemented　structure　fall　to　pieces。　There　was　a　very　clear　division　of　labour　between　the　two　classes　of　neuters　in　these　blind　species。　The　large…headed　class；　although　not　possessing　monstrously…lengthened　jaws　like　the　worker…majors　in　E。　hamata　and　E。　drepanophora；　are　rigidly　defined　in　structure　from　the　small…headed　class；　and　act　as　soldiers；　defending　the　working　community　（like　soldier　Termites）　against　all　comers。　Whenever　I　made　a　breach　in　one　of　their　covered　ways；　all　the　ants　underneath　were　set　in　commotion；　but　the　worker…minors　remained　behind　to　repair　the　damage；　while　the　large…heads　issued　forth　in　a　most　menacing　manner；　rearing　their　heads　and　snapping　their　jaws　with　an　expression　of　the　fiercest　rage　and　defiance。


CHAPTER　XIII

EXCURSIONS　BEYOND　EGA

Steamboat　Travelling　on　the　AmazonsPassengersTunantins　Caishana　IndiansThe　JutahiThe　SapoMaraua　IndiansFonte　BoaJourney　to　St。　PauloTucuna　IndiansIllnessDescent　to　ParaChanges　at　ParaDeparture　for　England

November　7th；　1856…Embarked　on　the　Upper　Amazons　steamer；　the　Tabatinga；　for　an　excursion　to　Tunantins；　a　small　semi…Indian　settlement；　lying　240　miles　beyond　Ega。　The　Tabatinga　is　an　iron　boat　of　about　170　tons　burthen；　built　at　Rio　de　Janeiro；　and　fitted　with　engines　of　fifty　horse…power。　The　saloon；　with　berths　on　each　side　for　twenty　passengers；　is　above　deck；　and　open　at　both　ends　to　admit　a　free　current　of　air。　The　captain　or　〃commandante；〃　was　a　lieutenant　in　the　Brazilian　navy；　a　man　of　polished；　sailor…like　address；　and　a　rigid　disciplinarian　his　name；　Senor　Nunes　Mello　Cardozo。　I　was　obliged；　as　usual；　to　take　with　me　a　stock　of　all　articles　of　food；　except　meat　and　fish；　for　the　time　I　intended　to　be　absent　（three　months）；　and　the　luggage；　including　hammocks；　cooking　utensils；　crockery；　and　so　forth；　formed　fifteen　large　packages。　One　bundle　consisted　of　a　mosquito　tent；　an　article　I　had　not　yet　had　occasion　to　use　on　the　river；　but　which　was　indispensable　in　all　excursions　beyond　Ega；　every　person；　man；　woman　and　child；　requiring　one；　as　without　it　existence　would　be　scarcely　possible。　My　tent　was　about　eight　feet　long　and　five　feet　broad；　and　was　made　of　coarse　calico　in　an　oblong　shape；　with　sleeves　at　each　end　through　which　to　pass　the　cords　of　a　hammock。　Under　this　shelter；　which　is　fixed　up　every　evening　before　sundown；　one　can　read　and　write；　or　swing　in　one's　hammock　during　the　long　hours　which　intervene　before　bedtime；　and　feel　one's　sense　of　comfort　increased　by　having　cheated　the　thirsty　swarms　of　mosquitoes　which　fill　the　chamber。

We　were　four　days　on　the　road。　The　pilot；　a　Mameluco　of　Ega；　whom　I　knew　very　well；　exhibited　a　knowledge　of　the　river　and　powers　of　endurance　which　were　quite　remarkable。　He　stood　all　this　time　at　his　post；　with　the　exception　of　three　or　four　hours　in　the　middle　of　each　day；　when　he　was　relieved　by　a　young　man　who　served　as　apprentice；　and　he　knew　the　breadth　and　windings　of　the　channel；　and　the　extent　of　all　the　yearly…shifting　shoals　from　the　Rio　Negro　to　Loreto；　a　distance　of　more　than　a　thousand　miles。　There　was　no　slackening　of　speed　at　night；　except　during　the　brief　but　violent　storms　which　occasionally　broke　upon　us；　and　then　the　engines　were　stopped　by　the　command　of　Lieutenant　Nunes；　sometimes　against　the　wish　of　the　pilot。　The　nights　were　often　so　dark　that　we　passengers　on　the　poop　deck　could　not　discern　the　hardy　fellow　on　the　bridge；　but　the　steamer　drove　on　at　full　speed；　men　being　stationed　on　the　look…out　at　the　prow；　to　watch　for　floating　logs；　and