Although the rest of the animal creation is small compared with the
creatures of the Eastern world, insects and reptiles attain a size which
will vie with those of any portion of the globe. Here we have a
centiped nearly a foot in length, with innumerable legs, and two horns
or feelers, which it protrudes with the most venomous expression. These
animals are not only hideous to look on, but their bite is _very_
painful, though not dangerous.
Cockroaches swarm everywhere; but the fire-ant is, for its size,
probably the most terrible of created beings. Its bite produces the
most acute pain; and where they swarm, on the dry sandy shores of the
streams, they frequently compel the natives to desert their villages.
Mrs Agassiz mentions having on one occasion hung some towels to dry on
the cord of her hammock, and was about to remove them, when suddenly her
hand and arm seemed plunged into fire. She dropped the towels as if
they were hot coals, which for the moment they literally seemed to be.
She then saw that her arm was covered with little brown ants. A native
brushed them off in all haste; and an army of them was found passing
over the hammock, and out of the window, near which it hung. He said
they were on their way somewhere, and if left undisturbed would be gone
in an hour or so.