American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-17

the large-hcads have, in some instances
greatly heightened jaws; the small-heads
have jaws always of the ordinary shape
but the two classes are not sharply defined
in structure and junction, except in two
species. In these the jaws of the major
workers are so monstrously heightened
that they are unable to perform the duties
of workers and therefore act as soldiers
All the ecitons hunt in large, organized
bodies, but almost every species has its
own special manner of hunting.
Among the ecitOn legiOnis there is nc
division in classes among its workers, al
though the difference in size is very great
1t lives in open plains, and its sting and
bite are not very formidable. The armies
consist of thousands of individuals and
move in rather broad columns. They arc
quick to break line on being disturbed
and attack hurricdly and furiously any in
truding object.
The ecit0n drepanopAara is one of the
confines its ravages to the thickest part Of
the forest. They swarm up,the legs OF
the traveller with incredible rapidly, each
one driving his pincer-like jaws into his
skin, and, with the purchase thus OBJ
tanned, doubling his tail and swinging ii
with all his might.
The GRAND of the vast ant armies is
plumber. Wherever they move the whole
animal world is set in commotion and
The main column, from four to six deep,
moves forward in a given direction, clear
ing the ground of all animal matter, dead
or alive, and throwing out here and there
a thinner column to forage for a short
time on the TANKS of the main army. On
their march the excited creatures search
every Granny, and tear in pieces all the
grubs they bring TO light. They attack
wasps' nests, tearing everything to tatters,
regardless of the injuriated owners who
are flying about them.
The life of the ecitons is not all work,
however, they seem frequently to be en-
ployed in way that looks like recreation.
This always takes place in a sunny nook.
The main column of the army and the
branch columns are in their ordinary po-
sitions; but, instead of pressing forward
eagerly and plundering right and left,
they seem to be smitten with a sudden fit
of laziness. Some walk slowly about;
other brush their antenne with their fore
feet; but the drollest sight is their clean
ing one another. Here and there an ant
may be seen, stretching forth first one leg
and then another to be brushed and washed
by one or more of its comrades, who per-
form the task by passing the limb between
the jaws and the tongue, finishing by Civ
ing the antenn9 a friendly wipe. 1t is a
curious spectacle, and well calculated to
increase ones amaZement at the similari-
ty between the actions of ants and the acts
of rational beings-a similarity which
must have been brought about by different
processes of development of the primary
qualities of mind. The action of these
ants looks like simple indulgence in idle
Have these little creatures,
then, an excess of energy, and do they ex-
pend it in mere sportivencss, like young
kittens, or in idle whims, like rational
beings?
Ants keep domestic animals. The
lphides, or plant lice, excrcte peculiar
sweet fluid which the ant obtains by ca
-essing the abdomen of the aphis with its
,ntenne. Ants also keep variety of
beetles and other insects in their nests. In
Iced, their whole social economy is of "A
complex order Nowhere is the division
IF labor-which in mankind always marks
. high state of civilization-so rigid, be-
ng carried to the extreme of a physical
of great numbers of the COM
nunity for the better fulfillment of their
luties. When marking their size we con-
ider the mighty character of the works
which they complete; when we reflect upon |
he infinitesimal ganglion which is the |
eat of the intelligence they display we |
nay well be filled with surprise, and al
most wonder if man, or any other order of
he vertebrate, is destined to remain for.
yer the higher animal.