Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-15

explored, and no other insect, how
ever small, can elude their search -
| The Iuman inhabitants are general
ly apprised of the approach by the
nutterlng Of cockroachcs and the
squcaking Of mice which have fallen
into their tolls. The mouse is usu-
ally seized in the first instance by a
single ant but in his foolish attempt
TO get that one detached, instead Of
running off with tito place Of safe
ty, he gets half a dozen or more on
him. In his distress and agony, he
falls down and cries out, and is soon
overpowered by multitude sufficient
TO destroy a much larger animal. In
very few minutes not trace Of
the mouse is TO be seen, except lit
tic hair and few of his larger bones;
and in the morning the floor may be
seen strewed with The wings of cock p
reaches that have been destroyed in
the night. 1t is necessary for the hu-
man inhabitants to abandon the
house during their occupancy Of it,
which, however, is not more thun n
few hours, and they are more than
repaid for this temporary lnconyeni-
ence by having the house completely
rid Of all other insects, which is no
small matter in any tropical country.
| have known persons to he entirely
destroyed 10y them, who, from sick
ness or lameness, could not get out
of their way, and had no one to re-
move them. II is said that criminals
were once punished on this part Of
the coast by being laid across the
tracks of these insects with fetters
on. This would be refinement Of
cruelty, for which no parallel can be
conceived. IL this ever was the Gus
tom Of the country, it has long since
passed away.
These ants seldom retain posses
sion Of any one house more than a
few hours but sometimes it takes
them several days to get through all
the houses of the same village
There is scarcely any way by which
their progress can be arrested and,
as a general thing, il is ,houghtto be
the best policy TO let them take their
regular course. They perform an
important service und the incon-
venlence which they occasion is tenn
/ porary, and might well be endured
Tor the advantages which are derived
from il.
Crossing Streams.
But in nothing is the ingenuity of
the little insects more remarkably
displayed than in the eSpedent to
which they frequently resort 10 cross
little stream on the sand beach aft
er shower of rain. Sometimes
their train is cut in two by one Of
these little streamlels. To plunge
into ii slngly, they would soon be
swept away by the rush of the
current. They come to the edge of
the water. raise their antenna, point
them from one direction 10 another
as If they were taking scientific
view OF all the dangers of crossing.
They wander up and down the
stream with the greatest uneasiness.
and finding no other way to cross,
form themselves into a compact knot
or raft OF dozen or more. and launch
themselves upon the stream. They
have, by previous observation, made
sure that they would strike a project
ing point or bluff on the opposite
shore, and not be carried by the cur
rent into the main river. The mo-
menl they touch the other side they
use their claws like anchors, and
hold on until the whole company dis
engage themselves, and march of in
single file in the track of those who
have preceded them. ! have watch
cd them for hours together, and have
seen raft after raft of these little
creatures go over in safety, when if
they attempted TO get across slLgly,
they would have been swept into ,he
river.