The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-09-10
A TERRIBLE ENEMY.

DR. Chuillu Just returned from Africa, writes
as follows Of the terrible ravages Of the editorial
ant:
1T is their habit to march through the forests
in long and regular line about two inches broad,
and often ten miles in length All along this line
are laIeer ants who act officers, stand outside
the ranks and keep this singular army in order.
If they come TO a place where there are no trees
TO shelter them from the sun, whose heat they
canHot bear they Immediately build under ground
tunnels, through which the whole army passes in
columns to the forest beyond. These tunnels are
four CT five feet under ground, and are used only
i'll the heat Of the day. or during storm.
"When they get hungry, the long file spreads
itself through the forest in front line, and de-
your all it comes to with fury which is quite
Irresistible The elephant and gorilla fly before
this attack. The black men for their lives
Every animal that lives in their line of march is
chased hey seem 10 understand and act upon
the tactics Of Napoleon, and Concentrate with great
speed their heaviest forces upon the point Of
attack In an incredible short space of time, the
mouse deg, or leopard or deer, is overwhelmed,
killed, eaten, and the bare skeleton only remains.
They seem to travel night and day Many a
time have been awakened out Of my sleep, and
obliged to rush from the hut and into the water
to save my life, and after all suffered intolerabe
agony from the bites. When they enter a house,
they clear it Of all living things. Reaches are
deyOurcd in an instant. Rats and mice spring
round the room in vain.
IAN overwhelming force of ants kills a strong
rat in less than minute, in spite Of the most
frantic struggles, and in less than another minute
its bones are stripped Every living thing in the
house is devoured. Thus they are, in reality very
useful-as we'll as dangerouS-to the negrOs, who
have their huts cleaned ofaIl the Astounding vermin,
such immense reaches and centipedcs, at least
several times year.
"When on their march, the insect world flies
before them, and have often had the approach
Of bashkouay army heralded to me by this
means. Wherever they go they make clean
sweep, even ascending to the tops Of the highest
trees in pursuit of their prey Their manner Of
attack is impetuous leap. Instantly the strong
pincers are fastened, and they only let go when
the piece gives way. At such times, this animal
seems animated by fury, which causes it to disre-
gard entirely its safety, and to seek only the
conquest Of its prey. The bite is very painful.
The negros relate that criminals were, in for
mer times, exposed in the path Of the bashikouay
ants as the most cruel manner Of putting to death.
Two very remarkable practices Of theirs remain
TO be related When, on their line Of march, they
must cross stream, they throw themselves a
and form a tunnel-a living luncheon
Meeting trees, high bushes on opposite sides
of the little stream. This is done with great
speed, and is effected by great number of ants,
each of which clings with its foreclaws to its next
neighbours body or hind claws Thus they form
a high, safe, tubular bridge through which the
Whole vast regiment marches in regular order III
disturbed, if the arch is broken by the violence
OF some 'nimel, they instantly attack the offender
with the greatest luminosity.
The bachikouay have the Of SINE Ii finely
developed, as indeed, have all the ants that /
know OF, aud they are guided very much by it.
They are larger than an inch long and are armed
with very powerful fore legs and sharp jaws with
which they bite. They red or dark brown
i'll color Their numbers so great that one
does not like to enter into calculations; but have
seen one continual line passing, at good speed
particular place tor twelve hours. The reader
may imagine for himself how many millions or
billions there may have been contained here