The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-09-05
The Bashikouny Antof Af.;..

tho ~ Is the dread of all living animals from,
IL az eopard to the smallest insect. do no.
- mat they build a,nest or home of .nn
hn tu, az any rate they carry nothing away
IoL: cav ali their prey on the spot It's tbe;r
W march through the forests in lone
1 oftor, lle7a line about two inches broad and
! linz are la .al miles IN length. All alone. this
onts;da a. IL anus who act as officers, stand
in order T ans ana keep this singular army
ara II thev come to a place where there
are no trees to shelter them from tho snn vboso
noas lucy cannot bear, they Immediately build
anael GROUND tunnels, through which the wbols
army passes in columns to tha fores+ horn'DI
neSe tunels are four Or five feet underground
ana are usea only in the heat of the dav or
during storm. "5 VI
sno mnen they grow hungry the long file
ltseit through the forest in front line.
Attacks and deVours all it oyertakea vel go
WHICH is quite irresistible The elanbont IN. anS
gorilla lily before this attack. The hlaoL man
run Tor their lives. Every animal that lives in
1heif me OF march IS chased. They seem TO
understand and act upon the tactics of Napole
on ana concentrate, with great speed their
heaviest forces on the point of attack. Tn an
incredibly short space eftime the mouse. or dog.
or leopard, or deer, is overwhelmed. killed
ana l, eaten, and the bare skeleton only remains
Ihey seem to travel night and day. Many
q
and obliged TO rush from the lint and into the
water to save my life, and after all suffered in.
tolerable agony from the bites of the advance
guard who had got into my cloths When thew
Gnol o "fanse they clear it of all living things
81 otie0 0TH devoured in an instant Rata
anu inioS spihg around taa room in vain An
overwhelming force of ants klns a straao rot
~ iose IMAM mlhute, in spite of the most fTf,,
TIC struggles. and in less than another minute >
gtT1nnpH
the mouse is devoured They will not touch
vegetable matter. Thus they are in reality
very uselui las well as dangerous)to the Ne
groes, VINO have their huts cleared of all the
apounolhg vermln, such as immense cockroach-
es and centipedes, at least several times a wear.
Nv hen on their march The insect world flies
ocfore them, and have often had the approach
OF a oashlkouay army heralded to me by this
means Wherever they go they make clean
sweep, even ascending to the tops of the high
est trees IN pursuit of their prey There man
ner OF attack is an lmpetuous 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 by q
knd OF Jury which causes it to disregard entire
~ Its own safety and to seek only the CONQUEST
OF It's prey. The bite is very painful
1he Negroes relate that criminals were in
former times exposed in the path Of the bashi-
kouay ants, as the most cruel way of putting
them to death. Two very remarkable practices
OF theirs remain to be related When on their
line OF march they require to cross narrow
stream, they throw themselves across and form
& tunnel-a living tunnel-connecting two trees
or high bushes on opposite sides OF the little
9tresm, whenever they can find such to facilitate
the operation. This is done with great speed,
and is affected by great number Of ants, each
of which cling with its fore claws to it's next
neighbours body or hind claws. Thus they form
a high, safe tubular bridge, through which the
whole vast regiment marches in regular order.
If disturbed or if the arch is broken by the vi
olence OF some animal, they instantly attack
the offender with the greatest animosity. Their
numbers are so great that one does not like to
enter into cal ,ulations; but have seen one con-
tinuous line passing at good speed particular
place for t,oetDe hours. u DuChaillu.