The Nevada Democrat., 1861-09-12
TIE nAsHIKuUAY ANT.


According TO NJ. du Chalu, one of the
most fornidable animals in the world is al
ant which be found in Central Africa. He
thus dercribes IL;
II is the dread Of all living animals, from
the leopard to The smallest insect. | do
not lhiak that they build nest or bone Ut
any kind. Al any rate they carry nothing
away, but eat all their prey on the spot
II IL their habit to march through the for.
ests in long regular line-a line about two
inches broad aud often several miles in
length. All along this line are larger ants,
who act ~ officers, stand outside the ranks
aud keep this singular army IN order. l.
they come TO u place where there are no
trees to shelter them from the sun, whose
heat they cannot bear. they Immediately
build underground tuAnels, though which
the whole army passes IN columns to the
forest beyond. These tunnels are four or
FIVE feet Underground. and are used OnIy
in the heat Of The day Or during q storm.
When they grow hungry the long line
spreads itself through the forest in u front
line, and attacks and devOurs all II over.
takes with fury which il quite irresistible.
The elephant aud gorilla fy before this at
tack. The black men run for their lives.
Every animal that lives in the line of march
ia chased. They seem to understand and
act upon the tactics of Napoleon, and con-
centrate with grea' speed their heaviest
forces on the point Of attack. In an inered.
IDLY short space of time the mouse, or dog.
or leopard, or deer is overwhelmed, killed
aud eaten, aud the bare skeleton only re-
mains.
They seem to travel night and day. Ma
ny q time have been awakened out of n
sleep and Obliged to rush from the hut and
toto the water TO save my life. and after all
suffered ntOlerable agony from the bites vi
the advance guard, VINO had got into my
clothes. When they enter house they
clean il Of all living things. COckrOaches
are devOured in an instant. Rats and mice
spring around the room in vain. An over.
whelming force of ants kills a rat in less
than u minute. in spite of the most frantic
struggles, and in Less than another minute
It's bones are stripped. Every living thing
In the house IL devOured. They will not
touch vegetable matter, Thus they are in
reality very useful las well a. dangerOus)
10 the negroes. who have their huts cleared
of all the abOunding vermin. such as i'm.
mense cOckroaches and centipedes, at least
several times a year.
When on their march the insect world
flles before them. and have often had the
approach of bRshikouay army heralded to
me by this means Wherever they 90 they
make a clean sweep. even ascending to the
tops Of the highest trees in pursnit Of their
prey. Their manner of attack is an impet.
uous leap. Instantly the strong pincers
are fastened, and they only let go when The
piece gives way. At such times this little
animal seems animated with kind Of fury.
whichcauses it to disregard entirely its own
safety, and to seek only the conquest of it's
prey. The bite is very painful.
The negroes relate that criminals we're In
former times exposed in the path Of the
bashikOuay ants, as the most cruel manner
Of putting them to death. Two very re-
mArkable practice Of theirs remain to be re-
lated. When on their line of march they
require 10 cross narrow stream, they throw
themselves across and fern a tunnel-a liv-
log t0nnel-cOnnectin two trees or high
bushes on opposite sides OF the little stream,
whenever they can find snch to facilitate
The operation. This is done with great
rpesd. and is effected by q great number Of
auts, each Of which ciings With its fore claws
We 80 t't q