The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-02-09
Curious Attack Of Ants.

lTlHludu, observed an uncommon MI III Der
of chasseur ants crawling abou, the floor oil
the room. They did not crawl upon my per-
son, bu, it was surrounded by them. Short.
ly after this, the walls of the room became
covered by them, and next: they began 10
take possession of the tables and chairs.
now thought it necessary TO take refuge in an
adjoining room, separated only by few as
cending steps from the one we occupied
and this was not accomplished without
great care and generalship or had we trod-
den upon one we should have been summa-
ry punished. There were several ants on
the step of the stair, but they were not near
so numerous as in the room we had left
but the upper room presented singular
spectacle; not only were the floor and walls
covered like the other room, but the roof
was covered also.
The open rafers of West India house,
at times afford shelter 10 a numerous tribe
OF insects, more particularly the cockroach
but now their destruction was inevitable
The chasseur ants, as if trained for battle,
ascending il: regular, thick files 10 the raf-
ters, and threw down the cockroaches to
their comrades on the floor, who, as regu-
larly marched off with the dead bodies of
cockroaches, dragging them away by their
united efforts with amazing rapidity. Eth.
er the cockroaches were stung TO death on
rafter, or else the fall killed them. The
ants never stopped 10 devour their prey, but
conveyed il all 10 their store house. The
winward windows of the room were glass,
and battle now ensued between the ants
and jack spaniards: on the panes of glass
The jack spaniarI may be called the wasp
OF the West Indies; it is twice as large as
British was, and lis sting in proportion,
more painful. 1t builds its nest it. trees and
old houses, and sometimes in the raiters of
a room. The jack spaniards were not quite
such easy prey, for they used their wings,
which not one cockroach had attempted
Two jack spaniards, holly pursued Oh the
window, alighted OIL the dress of one of my
children. In an almost inconcevabe short
time: party of ants crawled upon her
frock, surrounded and covered the two Jack
spaniards, and crawled again TO the floor
dragging off their prey, and doing the child
no harm. From this room, went into an
adjoining bed chamber and dressing-room,
and found them equally in possession of
. the chasseurs. Topened large military
chest OF linens, whicii-had been much III.
tested for was determined to take every
advantage of such able hunters | found
the ants already inside suppose that they
must have goI in at some opening OF the
hinges. Ipued out the linens or the floor
and with them hundreds of cockroaches not
one of which escaped.
We now left the house, and went 10 the
chamber, built at a little distance; but these
also were in the same state. next proceed.
ed 10 open store room at the other end of
! the house, for retreat; but 10 get the key,
had 10 return TO the under room, where the
battle was now more hot than ever the ants
had commenced an attack upon the rats and
mice, and strange as it may appear, they
we're no match lor their apparent insignif-
cant foes. They surrounded them as they
'"i ''iS i"SoN' hioei SofoIeu ulell oFerjaHu
dragged them off, with a celerity and union
OF strength: that no one who has not watch
ed such scene, can comprehend. did not
see one mouse or rat escape, and am sure
saw score carried off in very short per.
iod. | think it was about ten when | first
observed the ants and about twelve the
battle was formidable; soon after one O'Clock
the great strife commenced with the rats
and mice, and about three the house was
cleared. In quarter of an hour more the
ants began 10 decamp, and soon not one
was to be seen within doors.-Ske,cIes of The
| WeSt Indies.