The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-14
Tho Army Ants.
HOW THEY TRAVEL, AND HOW THEY sUBsIsT
ON THEIR TRAyELs-AN INTERESTING
SKETCH.

tied communities, which change their habi-
tatlons rarely, and then for causes not
ton to this rule is found in the eeitons, or
army ants of Central America. These,
while existing in thoroughly organized
communities, numbering millions, if not
myriads, never make permanent settle.
ments. but are constantly roaming about
the forests in vast multitudes, scOurgiDg
the insect world as the migration armies of
Attila scourged the less warlke nations of
Europe.
The travellers attention is usually called
to one of these predatory swarms by the
twittering of birds which follow their
course to feast on the flying insects which
they scare up. Approaching, he will dis
cover a dense body of ants, in a column
three or four yards wide and of enormous
length, moving rapidly, and examining
every nook and corner where their game
| may hide. The captured insects are speedily
torn to pieces and carried to the rear, or to
their temporary camp, by relays of workers.
On the Hanks, and in advance of the main
army, smaller columns of skirmishers are
thrown out to flush the insects they are in
pursuit ct, many of which, in their terror,
bound right into the midst of the main col
umn, to be torn to pieces instantly. Tie
greatest catches occur in masses of brush
wood. Here the cocs,naches Erasshoppers
,2":e"s and otter insects. take refuge
om.,s 'ht branches, " lie the ants are oc-
security is brief. In lttle while OK lorcrs
are s. = up, following every bra acl. AID
driving the refugees to the end of the .:,;Is,
to fly into the air and be snapped up ~ the
blrds, or drop among the thrOng of aats !
below. In this dilemma the spiders alone |
pend themselves in mid-air and remain in |
safety until their enemies have retire d |
from the bushes, and passed on to other
conquests.
The individuals of this species of ant are
OF various sizes, the largest being about Il
quarter OF an inch long, the smallest less
than an eighth of an inch. much larger
variety pursue their prey in q similar man
ner, but vary their tactics somewhat as
occasion demands. When on a general
hunt, they spread their columns over a con-
siderable breadth, and swept everything
before them, crickets, grasshoppers, scor-
plons, centipedes. woodlice, cockroaches
and spiders, falling almost certain prev
Exploring parties are also sent up trees to
look tor tests of bees, waspa, aud probably
birds. The moment o pr 70 is found the
fact ia repnrted to the army below, and a
c"'nmn Ia sent up to take possession. Mr.
R'l, {" whom we are indebted for these
observations. and whose Naturalist in
N'chiaSna gives more numerous and valu-
AL" additions to the science of natural
history than any book of travel since Wal.
II CO published the Maylay Archipelago,D
v
and pnl % from the cells Of large wasps'
nest "hiio the owners were lowering about
p"wer'ess. from the multitude of their in
vad"rs, to reader any protection to their
young.
When hunting in solid columns, these
ecitons were found to be generally; if not
always, in search of the young of another
species of ants, which make their nests in {
fallen timber. When a log is found, the .
column spreads out over it, searching all
the holes and cracks, the smallest individu-
Ills pursuing the unfortunate hypoclineae :
% the furthest ramifcations of their nests. '
The Invaded ants rush out bearing their
Ioung in their jaws, and are desp0iled of
hem so quickly that it is quite impossible v
20 see how it is done. The ecitous do NOT f
farm the mature hypccliaeas, caring only
or the larvae and pupae, which are hastily -
borne to the rear of their column. What
hey do with their plumber finally does not
ppear. 1t would seem that they cannot
ear the young hypoclineas for SLAVES, as j
ertain Northern ants do with their prey, %
lnce no mention is made of any such addi-
ions to the membership of their communi-
es.
When marching, these cotton armies ap- +.
car to be directed by numbers of iudividu-
Is, OF larger size and lighter color than 81
be regular workers, scattered at intervals
I TWO or three yards. They stop often, Tt
nd occasionally run back little and touch
ONE of the other ants with their anteuna, =
lnougu giving orders. AT the head
uarters there are individuals of still
reatcr size and more ferocious aspect, =
Inch soon make any one nolestiug the =
est acquainted with the efficacy of their
normous jaws. The temporary resting
laces of these ants are usually in hollow
'ees, or underneath large fallen trunks g..
lat offer suitable hollows. 81
One which Mr.. Belt, found in hollow IN
e, open at the side, must have contained wi
cubic yard of ants clustered in n dense -.
ASS, like swarm of bees And these III
ere but part of the whole community,
many columns were outside, some bring )
g in the pupa of other ants, others the T
gs and dissected bodies of insects cap -
red on their foray. These incommers
oceeded directly into the interior of the IS
fing mass through tubular passages,
hich were kept open just as though it !
ere formed of inorganic materials. Like cit
a limiting races IF DaDLipd tl,oo, -. tiei
ry swarms are compelled to make fire. La
ent removals to new hunting grounds. f Ha
lie migratory columns are easily known &C &C
hn nov, IT.