I present here a list of the various species of ants known to the
natives, together with the peculiarities by which they distinguish
them. I collected the information from Indians on the Seringal
"Floresta" on the Itecoahy River.
_Aracara_--the dreaded fire-ant whose sting is felt for hours.
_Auhiqui_--lives in the houses where it devours everything edible.
_Chicitaya_--its bite gives a transient fever.
_Monyuarah_--clears a large space in the forest for its nest.
_Sauba_--carries a green leaf over its head.
_Tachee_--a black ant whose bite gives a transient fever.
_Tanajura_--one inch long and edible when fried in lard.
_Taxyrana_--enters the houses like the _auhiqui_.
_Termita_--builds a typical cone-shaped nest in the dry part of
the forests.
_Tracoa_--its bite gives no fever, but the effect is of long duration.
_Tucandeira_--black and an inch and a half long, with a bite not only
painful but absolutely dangerous.
_Tucushee_--gives a transient fever.
_Uca_--builds large nests in the trees.
While convalescing from my first attack of swamp-fever, I had
occasion to study a most remarkable species of spider which was a
fellow lodger in the hut I then occupied. In size, the specimen was
very respectable, being able to cover a circle of nearly six inches
in diameter.
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