The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-02-14
Go to the Ant.

Some one having an expressive wit
called "Goldsmith's Animated Nature the
Romance Of Natural History. The writer
Of whom johnson said that he ''touched
nothing but to adon it." certainly did
preserve in fascinating form many Of the
wonderful narratives which tradition or
the imagination of superficial observers
offered. Yet careful observation, BY the
present race Of close and systematic inyes.
tigators, is giving to the world remarkable
instances of animal wisdom or experiment,
which make the term "instinct' seem no
longer applicable. For the irrational
creatures, and even insects furnish US
with examples which can hardly be re-
ferred to any mere intuitive faculty given
them to meet natural and expected dilem-
mas or conditions.
A work published in England, entitled
"The Naturalist in Nicaragua, gives some
remarkable accounts of species of ants
found in that country. The author fully
endorses the opinion of the French natur
alist that the ants approach nearest to
man in their social condition" He goes
further, and avows his belief that "if we
could only learn their wonderful language,
VIC should find that in their mental condi-
tion they also rank next to humanity. -
This is assuming great deal but the
authors facts give color to his theory Of
mental action in insects. We quote some
instances The Nicaragua ants move in
foraging armies, sending out scouting
columns in advance. If these skirmishers
encounter a spider or beetle they immedi.
ately seize and kill the luckless creature,
and convert the carcass into provision
not devouring it themselves, but instantly
conveying it to the rear, turning it over
to the "commissary department" The
author of the book tried the experiment Of
placing small stone on struggling ant.
His comrades Immediately dragged him
out by the legs The next experiment
was to cover an ant with wet clay. His
comrades nibbled of the clay aud set him
free. In one case, where the clay .plastered
ant could not readily be released by another
ant, which discovered him, the discoverer
hurried away and returned with rein
forcement Of dozen or so, who soon set
the prisoner at liberty When the army
reached slippery descent, down which
safe progress was too slow, strings Of ants
made themselves into ladders or steps,
holding on to the ground and to each other,
while the rest ran briskly down on their
bodies. They would widen twig which
crossed stream, holding on at each side,
and thus making bridge over which three
or four could run abreast, whereas only one
at time could pass over on the twig
itself. A railway coming in the path of
the ants, over which cars were continually
passing, there was for some time fearful
destruction of insect life At length the
little engineers aanked the destructive
danger. They made tunnel under each
rail, and passed in safety. The operations
of the railroad having broken up one of
the insect settlements, another one was
constructed +; and the food stored in tho
old was transferred to the new. This was
remarkable enough-but greater skill still
remains to be told Between the deserted
burrow and the new was steep slope.
One set of ants brought the food to the
edge of the dcclivity and tossed or pushed
it over Another working party took it
from the bottom and moved il off to its
destination. Here was very sensible
division Of labor.
In one thing more the ants Of Nicara-
qua resemble man. They cannot be warn
ed to avoid temptation. Their ravages in
kitchen gardens are fearful Asa remedy
the settlers throw powdered corrosive sub
Innate in their paths As soon as one Of
the ants touches the white powder, it COM
mences to run about wildly and attack
every other ant that it meets. In couple
Of hours round balls of ants will be found
interlaced and biting each other, some be-
ing bitten quite in two, Others having lost
legs or antinn@. News of the commotion
having reached headquarters, some of the
larger ants stalk down, with a resolute
air, as if they would soon right matters.
As soon, however, as they touch the fatal
powder, all their stateliness leaves them.
They rush about, are soon caught BY the
legs, and, biting and being bitten, become
the centres Of fresh balls Of rabid ants,
tearing each other to pieces. Certainly
these ants are like men, in their social
and mental" condition. For this Is a
game men have been playing ever since
Bacchus first squeezed bunch Of grapes.
The chief difference is that, unlike men,
ants do not provide their own ''sublimate. =
They have not "rational powers" enough
for that, nor even mental capacity TO
seek willfully their own destruction.
True happiness is Of retired nature,
and an enemy to pomp and noise itarises,