, 1874-08-01


studeuta VI natural history might havo rit-
messed spectacle Of no ordinary interest lad
thc1 ooen prosout At Sfosquito. q foH miles dis
taus from marlborough, on Saturday last, says
}. Tie sight was that of a battle bofneon two
opposing families OF the ant species and, hav-
fsY watched tho conflict for a oonBiderable
time, We cau safely say that il was ono Of tue
mont singular diHtus bances Of the kind GU record
i'll tho Colony. Our attention was drawn to the
spot by obses wing small crowd Of persons az
Aetnblca together Tho we're evidently very much
interasted in what waa going on.
Tho Hceue Of tile battle was on tho slope Of 4
hill nenr Penny j. Clausen's crushing. machine,
mud when we arrived it wan ragtng in Ill its fury
Tlo combatants On QUO slda we're blnck ants Of
tha smallest Hzs, and GU tale other rcd ants OF
QUO Of tho largest hize, aud to compare tho two
the red oucs wore about three times III large and
numbered thu red by millions. and at that stage
were rapidly gaining the upper band And be-
coming masters OF the fold. The ground for
many wards around was h.rown with the dead,
tracing tic line Of battle to one portion Of
it rather iBo!nted tron the contral rcena OF
action We discovered comparatively huge
maAses Of tho dead bodies lying together in
ths Aght bad commcncod at this poil.t, which
van near the stump Of a tree. the stronghold Of
the red ants and it alBo appeared as il it had
been carried on for some days and that the rod
had repnlsed the black from their holes. Tor tha
dead there showed every appearance Of having
been waaslod togothpr. aud NIL traces Of tue con-
tict. except tho bodice, ooliternted bY rain.
They were then fighting as rlaco several yards
removed from the STUMP, the lino Of ropnlse
snts--this was fully ]oD yardA OF. However
successful tile red tribe may have boon at
tlte outset IN beating bncl1 their aasai!ants.
they woro being .gradnally yaaquished By
tllcir snaor and blackor foes, aud no
SorA nftEt fhort
Tho numbers Of t|le rcd were llmitod, and
each OF thom had to fight with ton or twonty
black ants; solneameB. ipdood, ona would be
rushed by perfect army Of small ants, which
would fastan to hia legs and settla upon every
paSt Of hls body, rendering reBistauce hepless
aud escape impossible; yet hp would uot tlie
before iDliicting fatal injury to sone OF his
VictorB Now ono rod ant would struggle linl-
trear, but only to rusl inso tho jaSs of deatt, III
another part Of tho battlefield. Then puother
would run to tho assistance OF rod conrade in
dintress. when Duth shared tic cunlnlon fate.
lhuH tue conflict was w"ged; all the time ter
rlho slaughter Nus gong OH; carnaga AZ SERIOUS
~ tho world OF anta as any recorded In The
F.fleen Decisive BatKics, and iu that war tue
lower orders III tho kcne Of nature, which M
uurht'ectng mind might look upoa without soo-
Ing nnytl.ing to wordor at, one could almost im.:
aslno ise saw tile disp1as Of aa much pluck aud
hsroiBni RI was exhibited by tue loBts OF Greeco
III the plains Of Troy. II WA most interesting
to sue tbs movements aud colntormoyomeuta of
tha contondsng forcas; ths whee!,ag, adyance.
and retirement aud return Of tho little black
Hquatrona, aud the still moro fariors aud des-
l'erats charges OF the red lcgions. The exci+e-
mont, energy. and activity OH both 4idss wsro
wonderful to behold But the oyerpoworiug
numbals of the black auta completely procludoa
the possibility Of victory Gu tic part of the rod
onos. Thousands ncra in The iie1d ready to step
Into tho vacant raukb, mud millions mors were on
tho march from the burrow. Tue lno Of 100
yards betmecu the place Of fighting and thoir
Iort,ilcation was ltack and thick aud while
some which had taken part In the fray wero ro-
turning stl morS s; tor'aidaho ro1foreonona I
tong to dosuslbe many other features Of tls OK.
traorditary IAttlo, which would not full to strike
tllo attentive observer aud ,hlH hurried ACCOUNT
uf somewhat ln,po taDt episode In tho natural
history Of tho district must ho concluded with
the slatoneit that towIrd evening tho rod ants
rers utterly routed nni only a faw strngg1ers
esoauel to toll tho tale but for hours utter
wards the blaok conquerorh swarnlea about, no
doubt to celebrate tha conQueat III . manner
bnco,niug to IN 4nt-colnmuulty.