Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-08-28

..l o. tial fsseet sMxery.
The most remarkable fact connected with The
history Of ants, is the propensity possessed by
certain species to kidnap the WORKERS oi other
species and compel them to tabor fof the bene.
tof the community, thos using them complete.
ly as savess and % fsf ne yet we know, the
kidnsppsrs are red, Or pare.colored ants, and tho
slaves, like the il,fes.ed natives OF Africa, ore
Of jst black. The time fot cspfuring slaves
extends over a period Of about ten weeks, and
never comhHGHccs until the male and Iemale arc
about emerging pupa state; and thus the ruth
less tnarauders neve. interfere with the contin-
dstlon of the species This instinct seems spc-
cially provided; for were the slave ants created
for no other end than 10 gil the Stallion Of slave-
W to which they appear 10 be dooIaet. still e.
ven that Office nhsi III were the attacks to be
mace on their nests before the wngea myriads
have departed or are departing charged with
the duty Of continuing their kind. When the
red htts sse about to sally forth on a narauding
expedition, they send scouts TO ascertain the ex.
act position In which colony Of negroes may
be found. These scouts having 'dscovefed the
Objects OF their Search return to the nest and re.
pott yheSr success .F 1.
Shortly afterwards the army Of red ants mar.
ches forth, hcuGei by vanguard, which is per-
peiualiy changing the individuals which con.
strie it, when they hnSe advanced little be.
fore the main body. hating. fs,fhg into The
rear, and being replaced by Others. The van
guard contests q eightor ten ants only When
they have arrived near The negro colony they
disperse, wondering through the berb,ge and
hontink sbdht, Is aware or Tie propinquhy of
the object Of their search. yet ignorant Of lis cx.
ac, position. At last they discover the settle.
snents; ahd the foremost Of the Invaders. rusb.
ing hnpetuousiy 10 the attack. are met. gf,p.
pied with. and frequently killed by the negroes
on hoard The alarm is quickly communicated
10 The interior Of the nest; tho negroes sally
forth by tiionmhds; and the red ants rushing
10 the rescde. desperate conflict ens,ies; which.
however, always terminates in The defeat Of
the negroes. who retire to the nnermost reces.
ses Of their habitation. Now follows the scene
of pilluGe. The red ants, with their powerful
mandibIes. tear open the sides Of the negro ant
hills, tnA rush into the heart of the citadel In
few minutes ench invader emerges. carrying
in its mouth the pupa 81 worker negro. which
!, has obtained in spite of the Vigilance and va
Ior Of its natural gissdiatis. The req ants re-
turn in perfect order to their nests, bearing with
them their lvirg burdens. On reaching the
ncs, the pupa appears to be treated precisely as
their own; and the workers, when they emerge;
perform the various eGties OF The community
with the creniest energy nnd apparent good
will They tepair the hest. escavate passages,
collect fooa. feed the Larvae, take the pupa into
the sunshihe, dht pe.for.n every office which The
welfare Of the colony require They conduct
themselves entirely as il fulfilling ,heii original
destination.