The Weekly register., 1843-08-19
pised by more than one half of mankind
This, this Is UNIVERSAL PAME..n
From the Masaachnsetts Spn.
An Ant Fight.

scene of particular interest, one which
think goes far to demonstrate. that some
insects possess reasoning faculties. The
incident referred to. was a, pitched bat
tie between two near republics of ants,
the bone of contention being evidently
the possession of a grasshopper which
lay crushed midway between the two
hills, which were some twenty feet a.
part.
I When first seen, the combatants were
clustered around the object of contest,
graphing each other with their -mandi-
bles, squirting venom, and hundred
other maneuvres incident to a hand to
hand fight. Suddenly, cessation of
hostilities was agreed upon, and the COM
batants left the field, each party return
ing TO its respective hill, leaving nine
of their number outside the works, who
Immediately each mounted q, tall blade
of grass, seeming to act as sentries,
which in fact, was their office, for. upon
one of the hills suddenly poured forth
millions of tiny warriors. They de-
scended from the look outs and descend
ed into the citadel, which, in its turn
sent forth martial throng.
One body emerged from its sally ports
without any regard for order till space
of some three or four feet had been
passed over, when they deployed over to
the right and left, till they formed an
extended front Of six feet, their right
resting on the bank of small pool and
the left on rock about twenty inches
high. The opposite party in coming
forth, exhibited a more finished dispo-
tion. From three outlets, they advan-
ced in couplets and trios, alternately,
each trio moving in direct line for the
centre of their opponents line, and halt
ing when within three feet, the couplets
proceeding en- an angle drawn from
their hill to the extreme right and left
ofshcis foes. The right seeuplsts tcck
up position on small knoll about five
feet from the enemies rock, two in rear
of-the trios, while the left continued its
march till the pool caused a halt. An
immediate retrograde movement took
place and tho body posted itself in line
extending from the right of the trios.
land forming triangle with it,) to the
bank of the pool. Both parties remain
ed stationary few moments, then stri-
king their heads violently on the ground,
and raising themselves erect the trios
rushed to the fight, the couplets remain
ing stationary. The movement Of the
trios was met by an immediate advance
Of the right and left of the line, the GEN.
ire gallantly maintaining its ground, as
if attempting to gain the trios' rear
This attempt, however, was foiled by
the couplets opposing them, and the
fight became: general. AS either. party
gained the ascendancy, there would be
running, or rather tumbling fight all
over the field of battle which embraced
an area Of twenty. feet square. Occa-
sionally as the tide Of battle left one por-
ton of the ground, thousands might be
seen writhing in agony from the lossef
a limb or antena. After hard fight
Of sixty-fve minutes, the trios and coup
lets were victorious, pursuing the. van
quished into their fortress when rapine
seemed 10 be the order of the dey.. The
nests of their antagonists were torn to
pieces, and their eggs and young borne
off triumphantly to the conqueror's for
tress. 80 !.
The battle ground now exhibited a
picture, an exact counterpart in minia-
ture of other fields of glory. But what
interested me most, was the operation OF
the surgeons and their assistants, (now
don't smile incredulous) there was iR-
that insect army regular staff of Off
GERS in their own peculiar uniforms and
surgeons and their attsndants. On the
leaves of a large thistle, which was
spread on the ground, a body Of ants
with greenish forebodies, and red ante
nae, were gathered together, and eyi-
IDENTIFY conversing, for they would occa-
sionally touch each other on various
,,,~te oft hoJ;o, xu;,h .ba;r antannaa