The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-03-16
LITTLE SOLDIERS.

-tnclr eAploltS ANU HlaneuFoio, viz Wv
tories they gain, the wonderful skill they
display; but am going to tell you about
some little folk, lower down in the scale
of creation, whose military tactics, consid-
ering their size, quite throw their big
brothers into the shade.
These little soldiers are sort of second
cousins to the bees. Their family name
is HymeaOptera. SO you see they can't
help being shrewd. They seem cut out
for warriors from the beginning, for Ma
ture has put in their mouths two wcap-
ons, which may be used either as pincers,
twcczers, scissors, Pick-aX or sword
They have three times as many legs as
men soldiers, each of which is armed
with a spur and fringed with short hairs,
that serve them as brushes. Perhaps
you will be surprised when / tell you
that these folks arc only the common ants
that you may have sometimes trodden un-
der foot. But listen TO what the great
books say about them.
To begin with, they are the waricst lit
tie people in the world. They have sen
tinels always posted at short distances
from their nests, whose duty it is, when
an enemy appears, to fall back and spread
the alarm among the inhabitants. Their
fashion is to tap with their tiny horns eve
ry ant they meet; whereupon follows a
general agitation, and thousands OF these
little soldiers sally forth to conquer or
| to die. In some nests there are masked
doors, guarded by sentinels. Certain spe-
cics hollow out covered galleries, which
they reserve for emergencies, either to
escape by or to imprison an invading
army. Ant-hills are, in fact, fortresses,
defended in the most ingenious manner.
But ants are not only home guards. A
more industrious race of conquerors never
lived. They besiege cities, dispute ground
with their neighbors, and undertake eX-
peditions for the sole purpose of carrying
off prisoners of war. Of these they make
slaves, forcing them to all sorts Of work
and the care of the baby ants. Their
mode of warfare differs. The Russets, the
most ferocious of their kind, begin their
expeditions in June, during the hottest
hours of the day. They march forth eight
or ten abreast, each file headed by a scout;
and, when ready, start on run, without
feeling their way. Those who are in
front do not remain there. After time
they go double-quick to the rear, and are
replaced by those behind This movement
continues till they reach the place of at
tack, where they halt and gather into one
close mass. The assault is speedily made,
the fortress is demolished in the twink
ling of an eye, and they return with their
booty leisurely homeward.
A great man who was well acquainted
with the ant family once witnessed such
an assault. He noted the army leaving
camp, and, knowing well what they were
after, followed. Just over the road was a
nest of black ants, and here they paused.
The sentinels Immediately gave the alarm,
and forth rushed the belligerent inhabi.
tants. Upon these the invaders ad-
vanced, and unceremoniously knocked
them head over heels, 1.-The argument
was very convincing" says Huber, land
after short combat they scampered back
into the nest. Then up the sides climbed
the soldiers, some entering by the deserted
doors, others, more valiant, forcing a
breach; till finally the whole army was in
the besieged city. A moment only, and
out they came, each bearing captive ant,
and walked demurely home.
The Mining ants are less timid than the
black They defend themselves so brave
ly that frequently there are deadly com
bats. The battle field is left covered with
heads, legs, and various appendages. The
Miners pursue the pillagers and snatch
their plunder from them; but they art
generally driven back, and the Russets
reach their homes in triumph.
The Red ants 60 forth in smaller com
pany's, and begin by tormenting the enc
my's scouts. Couriers ply backward anc
forward constantly for reinforcements
When the troop feels itself strong enough
it invades the nest somewhat on the plal
of the Russets. The object OF the Re(
ants seems to be the securing of home
for, if possible, they turn out the inhabi
tants and Immediately bring their owl
families to the nest. Shabby little sol
diers, these Red ants!
, The Termites, sometimes called Whit
ants, have a standing army to protect tn
, realm. It's members are exempt from al
other duties, and are highly honored IL
ant society. Strange to say, these are dis
tinguished naturally from the rest OF thel
; kind. In some cases they are twice a
I long, and have enormous heads, trimme'
| with pincers. Very often they are blind
They form dangerous army. Even MAJ
: is not safe from their attacks, and in som
r countries negroes cannot be induced t
approach them unarmcd.
Altogether, these little soldiers ar
curious folk. hope you will not forge
them, but some day try and learn all abou
them yourselves.-Rosa Graham, in N. J
Independent. 5...E
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