, 1861-09-26
African Ants.

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most uneQualed powers Of destruction.
In the forests Of this part Of Africa are found
vast numbers Of ants, some Of whose tribes are
so terrible to man, and even to the beasts Of the
wood, from their venomous bites, their fierce
temper and voracity, that their path is freely
abandoned to them, and they may well be called
lords Of the forest.
know of ten different species Of ants found
in these regions, all differing widely in their
choice of food, the quality of their venom, the
manner of their attack, or the time Of their op-
Grafton. The most remarkable, and most
dreaded Of all, is the baSiikoTdy.
This ant Is also called nchounou by the
Mpongwe, is very abundant in the whole region
have Travelled over in Africa. and is the most
voracious creature ever met 1t is the dread
Of all living animals from the leopard to the
smallest insect.
do not think that they build a nest or home
Of any kind. At any rate, they carry nothing
away, but eat all their prey on the spot 1t is
their habit to march through the forests in long
regular line-a line about two inches broad, and
often several miles in length All along this line
are larger ants who act as officers, stand outside
the ranks, and keep this singular army in order.
If they come to place where there are no trees
to shelter them from the sun, whose heat they
cannot bear, they Immediately build underground
tunnels, through which the whole army passes
in columns to the forest beyond. These tunnels
are four or five feet underground, and are used
only in the heat Of the day or during thun-
derstorm.
When they get hungry, the long file spreads
itself through the forest in front line, and at
tRcks and devours all it comes to with a fury
which is quite irresistible. The elephant and
gorilla fly before this attack The black men
run for their lives. Every animal that lives in
their line Of march is chased. They seem to
understand and act upon the tactics Of Napoleon,
and concentrate, with great speed, their heavi-
est forces upon the point of attack. In an in.
credibly short space Of time the mouse, or dog,
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 sleep, and
obliged to rush from the hut and into the water
to save my life, and after all suffered intolerable
agony from the bites Of the advance guard, who
had got into my clothes. When they enter a
house, they clear It of all living things. Reaches
are devoured in an instant. Rats and mice
spring around the room in vain. An overwhelm-
ing force Of ants kills 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 de-
voured. They will not touch vegetable matter.
Thus they are in reality very useful (as well as
dangerous) to the negroes, who have their huts
cleaned Of all the abounding vermin, such as i'm.
mensc reaches and centipedes at least several
times year.
When on their march the insect world flies
before them, and have often had the approach
Of bashikouay army heralded to me by this
means. Wherever they go they make a clean
sweep, even ascending to the tops Of the highest
trees in pursuit Of their prey. Their manner Of
attack is an impetuous 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 kind Of fury
which causes il to disregard entirely its own
safety, and to seek only the conquest Of its prey.
The bite is very painful.
The negroes relate that criminals were in for
mer times exposed in the path Of the bashi-
kouay ants, as the most cruel manner Of putting
to death.
Two very remarkable practices Of theirs re-
main to be related. When, on their line OF
march, they must cross q stream, they throw
themselves across and form q tunrel--a living
tunnel-connecting two trees or high bushes on
opposite sides Of the little stream. This is done
with great speed, and is effected by great num-
Der Of ants, each Of which clngs with its fore
claws 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. If disturbed, or IL the arch is
broken BY the violence Of some animal, they in
stantly attack the offender with the greatest ami.
mostly
The bashikouay have the sense Of smell finely
developed, as indeed have all the ants know oi,
and they are guided very much by it. They are
larger than any ants we have in America, being
at least half an inch in length, and are armed
with very powerful fore legs and sharp jaws,
with which they bite. They are red or dark
brown in color. Their numbers are so great
that one does not like to enter into calculations (;
but have seen one continual line passing at
good speed particular place for twelve hours.
The reader may imagine for himself how many
millions on millions there may have been con-
tanned here.
There is another species Of bashikouay which
is found in the mountains to the south Of the
equator. It is Of great size. The body is gray
ish-white in color; the head Of reddsh-black.
Its fangs are very powerful, and 1t is able to
make clean bite out Of piece Of flesh. II is
thus very formidable animal; but fortunately
its motions not so quick as those Of its fierce
bsotee; Il does not march in such vast armies,
nor does it precipitate itself upon its prey with
such irresistible fury. In its motions 1t is al
most sluggish They do not invade villages, nor
climb trees in pursuit Of prey; and | do not
think them nearly so voracious as ther fellows
before mentioned II they were, they could
doubtless clear the country Of every living thing,
for they are much more powerful. They are, in
fact, to ants what whales are to fishes.
A plain old gentleman went with his team to
bring home his two sons, two young sprigs who