Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-15
THE ANTS OF PANAMA.

Of the many curious shrubs and vines which
grow around Panama, there is perhaps none
more 30 than species of acacia called by the
natives cuernito (mimosa cornlgera because
the trunk and branches of this shrub are thick
ly studded with strong, sharp, hollow spiues
attached in couples at the base like the horns
on the head of bull The least attempt to
handle any part of it, except with the greatest
caution, is sure to be attended with some Sc
we're puncures by the sharp points of the horn
shaped spines that everywhere present gen
eral chevauX de frlse to the Intruder; but this
plant is no, remarkable alone tor the pecullarl-
ties of its structure The whole tree is taken
possession of by particular species of small
ants of brownish color aud are called here
caudellllas. because the sting leaves Sensa-
tiou like the falling OF u spark OF hre on the
skip. These ants are OF SO combatlve nature
that wherever one touches the tree there they
all run to punish the offender. These are nev
er seen on any tree but this species. When
the tree is we'll grown the horushaped spi1es
are large, hard, strong and quite hollow within.
Near the point one of each couple OF these ho.-
low spines has a round hole, which forms the
door to what is convenient wafer proof dwell
ing place for as many ants as choose TO take up
their abode in 1t. When undisturbed the ants
are generally moving about over the leaves as
III
There is species of bird whose eggs are
similar tC the hedge sparrows in England, that
is sure to select this tree to make its nest ou.
This nest is shaped like retort with short
neck turned down aud made of dried grass and
woven. Now whether the bird counts on the
protection of his eggs aud young from the
spiny nature of the tree or the pugnaclous
character of the ants further observation may
determine. Que of these nests had two eggs
with the young ones about to break through
the she'll The ants did not seem to trouble
them, but 10 another nest of the same kind
which had been abandoned by the builders, We
found in it great number OF the eggs OF the
ant, which, on being turned out, these ants tried
to carry of, as ants generally do In fact we
should like TO sec the ant or other insects that
would attempt to lodge anywhere on the mlmo-
sa cornigera
Besides the bird nest there are two or three
kinds of wa.ps with striped bodies that hang
their globuiar shaped nests to the branches OF
this shrub, and they also seem to live 10 har-
mopy with the said auts, and have some reason
or other to prefer trees with such formidable
spiues to one without them. On examining
more closely into the nature and formation OF
these curious looking spines, We find every one
to the left, l. e., looking toward the apex OF
the branch, has round hole drilled near the
~
their juGcture there is no necessity for making
similar hole in the right hand one We
found ants in most of these hollow organs;
some few were furnished with wings, which
explains how migrations are made, aud new
colonies set up in unoccuplod trees OF this
species of mimosa.
Dampier, in his voyage to South America,
speaks of these candelillas or stlnglng ant, but
mistakes the nest of the tcrmltes or white ants,
as belonging to the former. 1t would certain
ly be difficult for any traveller entering the
woods along the seashore 10 these countries not
TO have his attention called to both objects.
BUTCHERS MEAT.-An interesting light,
says an English paper is thrown on the mystic
ries Of the slaughter house by memorial just
presented by DR.. Yield, medical officer of health
for Sunderland, to the health committee OF that
town, against the blowing and stuf6ing OF
meat The practice of blowing Is described
as follows: "A tube or pipe is thrust under the
skin of the meat, and the butcher or dresser
then blows the foul air from his own lungs into
the cellular tissue of the meat, the effect being
that deceptive appearance OF plumpness or
fatness is given to the meat, and IN many cases
it becomes tainted with the smell of rum, to-
bacco, etc. This is pleasant for meat consun-
ers, and where ignorance is bliss 1t is perhaps
folly 70 be wise, and now that public attention
has been called to the blowing practice, 1t
might perhaps be as we'll for butchers so far to
meet the wishes Of the fastidIous as to use
pair Of bellows for the purpose OF giVnga grace
iul embonpoint to the carcasses of animals they
kill. Even for their own sakes they will act
piudeutly by discoutluuiug the use OF their
lungs 10 tue process. DR.. Yield also protests
against the practice OF artlhcaliy stuthng the
loins or other parts of the animal with fat so as
to give false appearance OF corpulcDce As
remedy he suggests the imposition of a penalty
for every such otfeose Of twenty shilllngs for
the first aud forty shilpgs for each subsequent
conviction. His suggestions were adopted
unanimously by the health committee at Sun
derlaud and it is to be hoped that not only IN
that town but elsewhere artificial fatness will
ut least be produced by less disagreeable means
than those mentioned by DR.. eld.
WARLIKE INVENTIONS. 1t is stated that the
new breech loading field artillery which krupp
has perfected for the German army shoots
farther and hits harder than any gun possessed
by any other patton. The shell which he has
inyented is said to be admirably adapted to the
gup, and contains an intensely powerful COM
pound, which when discharged bursts into two
and a half times as many fragments as an ordi-
nary shell, and deals out two and half times as
much destruction to life. ln the meantime Eng
land is busy manufacturing death dealing guns
The steamship Devastation, which has twelve
inches Of solid aruor, is to be far surpassed by
future iron-clad, the Inhexible, whose solid
plates are to be of the astonishing thickness OF
twen,y-four inches This monster will be over
1000 tous offs, 900 horse power, and will carry
four heavy guns of 81 tons, each carrying shot
Of about LOCO poudds The torpedo system
would seem to be the only couner-lrrltant
against these marine leviathans. The cele-
brated Ericsson is the inventor of moveable
torpedo, which it isclaimed is far more effective
than most OF those inventions, follows its enemy
the heavies, % armed T shn to nieces # ali this is
true, we Can afford to let other nations construct
bg guus and big ships, and rely upon the sub
aqueous demon to d, feud our long line OF sea-
cvaSt.