Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-16
Communications.
FoR Tue VERMONT PHaHIx.
FORfICIDA.


tanned in recent number of the "Edin.
burgh Quarterly" that of January, 1877
and as articles from the English review:
are frequently reprinted in that most ex.
cellent eclectic, "Littelrs Living Age" 1t is
possible that the one in question may ap.
pear in that publication, and if so, will be
rendered more available TO the general
reader. The paper is one Of unusual inter-
est to all students of Natural History. II
is entitled "Fore on the Ants of Switzer-
land - aud is a review of three books that
have appeared during the past few years,
on the subject of ants. The principal work
referred TO Is one written by "Forel" un-
der the following title: Lies Fournis do la
Suisse Systematique Notices, Auatomiques
ct hysiologuiques, Architecture, Distri-
button Geographiques, Nouvelles Expert
ences ct Observations de Moours."
So many curious and interesting things
have been discovered in relation to the
common ant (Formicd Rufd) that the wri i.
ter of this article desires TO call attention TO
them, hoping that some person may find
time to take up the study OF ants, observe
their strange customs and marvellous per-
| formances, and thus verify the statements
,,a,o,, ~, a,, La aha,, 1,soo,,o. ,,,o, ~.
occupants display remark able traits of char
acter, and evince highly developed intel
ligenco II will be found that ,hev ara
architects, that they form governments, es-
,oI,l;sh ooiorios oan,nro .ioyos loon horIs
of animals and milk them, display unusual
noror,ol onoc,ion and oiso organizo ar
nioe ,o forth to ha,,lo brirc homo nrisop.
or. and do ,napv oihor ,h;ngs ;n aJJ ,,L;eb
,l,,, ,.o s;,,,.o, D., ,Lo L,',,,,,, ,.,,.o t,,,
,,Louo. ,,,o,,,,o,o
have Electoral Commissions
A"u A''u''''s /" '"e'r u''i''O"''
or not, remains yet 10 he discovered. Ater
referring TO the fact that even the ancients
IN their classical works nave treated thls
SUBJECT, the writer IN the review goes on 10
mention number oil authors among the
moderns, VINO have written In English,
frehch ana German concerning these ln-
secls, ana styles m. Pierre Huber as Tine
historian OF ants" II is doubtless true that
we are indebted TO him Tor vast amount
oi Information respecting them and as COM
plimentary to his work m. Forel" states
In the preface OF his own book, that he be-
came interested in the subject simply from
reading all that "Huber'' had written about
them, and resolved to devote his own time
and thought TO the same study.
lie divides the social ants into three fam
lilies: l, The FOrmicide. 2, The P0merid9.
3, The Mynnicide. These classes differ
among themselves in having, or not having
stings, and either enclosing or not enclos-
ing the nymphG, (young) in cocoons. The
nests Of these insects are of various forms
and sizes, according TO locality, and in their
arrange ment great genius is shown. Some
"'"ons 'hehi' says M foie'' arc very eIao-
orate III 'ueIr structure anu may be dlNi-
ued INTO hve classes: l, Nesis OF pure
eAr'n' q nests Dofeu IN WOOL o. Nests
oil cardboard, wood or other materials. 4,
Nests oil composite materials. b, Abnor-
maj hes's'' In order 10 observe The ants
more closely, he once removed portion OF
nest win great care, ana then placed a
pane oil glass over The part lie had opened.
In luis way ne was enaDleu 10 observe
them IN thelr spacious nails, excavated
some distance below the surface, and con-
ing the earih win water, ana working ike
masons' and exhibiting remarkable skill
IN their labor
Ihe ierocity manifested by the ant in
oatlle is astonishing. NJ Forel has record
ed NUMBER oil oaltles, some OF which took
Piace between ants OF dlnerent species, oth-
ers between anls Oh Inc same species, ont
VI inherent aul-hills' Ihey are inc Dull
dogs among insects lor certain individuals
among them nave been found carrying,
suspended to one oil their SIX legs, The head
OF some foe conque red in the wars, and
others still have been seen dragging about
The body OF an enemy, (which not even In
death would relax his hold"
Although their armies must consist OF
thousands, they always night in pairs, ana
whoever mas witnessed one OF their con-
nlcls mas seen wonderful sight, Iheir
uiili'ary expeditions Ior the purpose oi
capturing slaves are not less extraordinary
put the limits oi TINS article VIII not admit
OF giving details IN regard 10 their prepara-
uons' advances hal's' apparent cohsuita-
uons' cnauses o' posil'oh' in'Su'ng tue
ant-hlll 10 DC uespoiieu' entering lhe sai-
ier'es' PHias'us Tie nes's' "uu running
nonie asain, each WIN cocoon III MS
NOUN, anu lnen returning ior the purpose
Vi IuIlhor plunuer'
Inc relation Oh Tue ants 10 thelr cows as
'ne upH'deS Ut Pian' Iice arc caIleu' is one
Vi Tue nlos' CURIOUS points in tpls partlc'
AiAr nuoSr enters mo ueIa'I' ana MS us
co'erieS arc Veriheu oy Nj forei. inc
PROCESS OIL hiliklhs INC cows Is hisniy ln-
tereSlluB, ana Is given IN iull on page 40,