New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-29
ypp POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY.

An original article on "Ants," with which
this number opens presents in STRIKING heht some {"
the curious hab oi that marvellous insect, which rivals
the human in fertility Of Resource ana energy oI
action and enables excuse tue aIeciaon cf the
title Anen Ants" Some Of their strange human traits
are referred u as follows Pitched battles sometimes
occur between Ge! cnt pugnacioGs Species and classical
writer's have dceI..cd them worthy TO be recorded.
Kirby and Spence relate that Eneas syvlus, ai'er CIV
ing circuInstantal account Of one contested with great
obs.iuacy by large and small species, adds that ts
action was fought in the Pontihcate OF Eugcnius w.
Thorcau gives "a graphic descriptiOi-in his whimsical
style of cxaltng small n and emphasizing the triug
difference that there is between big and little actors
and events in Nature-of a similar engagement
that took place near his hut in the presidency OF Polk
five years before the passage of Websers Fugitive Slave
Bill Whether snch an enactment obiaius in any of tins
ant nations ia unknown but that certain Of them poas ss
the extraordinary instinct Of capturing The pupe OF other
speeies and bringing them up as slaves is wellauheD
Heated fact. They made captive while still IN Ire
cocoon and emerging become the auxiliary WORKERS
and friends OF their captOrs as though sucl MAS ticI
natural destiny. But no fanciiui exaggeration
is needed TO Impress us with the degree Of
forethought. methodical industry, and dauntless
courage the engineering ard mechanical SIKH,
the reasoning nd percepye powers and general sagacy
which the ant displays. II space permitted, numerous
illustrative citations could he given member OF the
Natural History Society describes tubular bridge, haif
inch In diameter, and spanning chasm twelve inches
across A correspondent Of Mr. Darwns, Mr.. Joseph d.
Hague. geologist Of California submits what seems to
be satisfactory evidence that they realize danger from
seeing the corpses Of their fellows, IN inference
drawn by other uveIebrate II indeed it be 10y the
higher animals. They keep domestic animals. Tie
aIhides or planf-iice, excrete peculiar sweet fluid
which the ant obtains by caIessug the abdomen of tie
aphis with It's Ordinarily they seek the aphdes
upon plants but that they also keep them in their nests,
10 tauisu
sanction Of eminent naturalsts among them Sir John
Lubbock, who further says: Ants also keep variety
of beetles and other insects IN their nests That they
have some reason for this seems clear. because they
readily attack any nnwecOne intruder; but what that
do not yet know. II these insects do
mesticated by the ants, then must admit that the
ants possess domestic animals than do Indeed,
their whole social economy is Of complex order. No
where IL the division Of laborwhch in mankind always
marks high state Of cvlizatiOnso rigid, being carried
10 the extreme Of physical modification OF great
bers of the community for the better fument Of their
duties Their undeyeloped sterile fomas may TO
warrior members Of the AHArop,de
who are anxious TO subordinate il not wholly Ivy
down, the gentle functions Of maternity in order that
they may engage In the steiner work Of the world!
When marking their size, consider Tie mighty char.
acter OF the works which they complete when reflect
upon the infntosimM gangliOn which Is the
seat OF tie Intelligence they display, may
well be filled with surprise and almost wonder
II man, any other order Of the vertebrate. Is
destined TO IemaIn forever the higher animal !"
The physical destiny OF our planet ia treated III paper
from the Fortnghtly" entitled Tie Frat and Last
Catastrophe" tby Prof. Kingdom Clifford in which the
writer illustrates the dependence OF the life Of the earth
the action OF tho But the sun is wearing out, ia
growing COOL and although the heat which 1t loses day by
day Is made UP measure by the contraction OF its
mass process cannot forever. so far the
earth Is concerned end Of life upon IT, IL probable
science make anything although we can draw no
conclusions with regard the universe in general But
greatest interest lies not IN the material things upon