Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-07-27
For the Chronicle.
INTERESTING TO NATURALISTS

While promenading the pavement
by the store of Mr.. j. T. johnson, on
the 10Th of July, 1872, ! observed a
regiment of emmets, or small ants, of
the yellow variety, passing in great
numbers across the pavement, oblique-
ly from the wall of said store to the
curb stonc, a distance of some two
rods.
The scene was Of such interest as to
cause me to investigate their move
ments. The first object of interest
which attracted my observation, was
that about two-thirds of those
leaving the wall, were bearing burd-
ems Ldru1, the remaining third APP
pcarcd to be guards-with the excep-
ton of few winged oncs-not reck-
oned in the above estimation. Those
returning from the new to the old fort
ress were without burthens, guards or
winged mobility" now called other
gentlemen to witness the busy commo-
ton and while thus engaged, one of
the spectators called my attention to,
what | regard as discovery in Nat
urol Sciencc--a Qucen ant She was
many times larger than her attendants
True, Mr.. Smcathman has given an
account philosophical transactions,)
of species Of white ant" Emmcis,
or ,chitc dA,s-orClcr NeToptcrd," met
with in Guicna, Africa. In which he
divides them into three orders; first,
the working insects or laborers fight
ing ants, or soldiers, which do no Kind
oflabor; third and last of all the winged
ones, or perfect sccts, which are male
and female These last might very
appropriately be called the nobility,
or gentry, for they neither labor nor
fight, being quite incapable of either;
these only are capable of being elected
Kings and queens (Aftor descr.b ne
the hills of this species of ant extcr-
nally, Mr.. Smcathman then speaks
thus Of the interior structure: THE
interior parts of these buildings are
disposed nearly as follows: The re-
gal chumber, which | call So, on ac-
count of its being occupied by the
king and queen, is situated on level
with the surface of the ground, elui-
distant from all sides of the building,
and directly under the apex of the hill,
being surrounded on all sides, by The
royal appointments, which have only
laborers and soldiers in them doubt
less, to serve their common father and
mother (king and queeR) on whose safe
ty, depends the happiness, and even
the existence, of the whole commu-
nifty"
II will be observed that this author
has divided this species of insects into
three orders; first, laborcrs, next sol
dicrs, and lastly winged, or perfect
secis, composed of males ana female
constituting the nObiiy-from which,
he proposes 10 elect Kings and queens
He represents them as thirty times
larger than ono laborcr and twice that
of a soldier in which perfect stage they
como abroad in the rainy season in
incalcuablo numbers Of which prob
abb not q pair, IN many millions. get
into a place Of safety, and t1y he toWa-
,iGtiOH fOr Rep cOB,HiKniiD
This view Of the subject involves u.
in new difficulties. For according To
Mr.. Smcathman $ statements, the third
stage is only the perfect stage of the
insect and composed, alike of males
and females hence the entire com
munity may in time, reach this degree
Of perfection; if not, as il is, we sec
millions who have arrived TO this
degree of mobility" all heing cliei-
bic, and possibly contending for the
roy1l diddcm. Such n view would
involve this little government in de-
structiyc wars. We doubt the exist
ence Of a king; we believe, however,
that in every community OF ants, that
there arc droncs, males, workers, Reu-
. ttrs, and a queen, or 9gceRs and are
governed by laws similar TO the bee
| | am not aware of such a division
having been made, or even approXima-
ted by any author excepting Smeath,
man, as above quoted In geological
science. the bee is placed among in
sects as the Apis, and Order Hymsao-
trl'1 aAd consisting ~ three divisions
IL sirt Community 81 ta'aily Ihns,