The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-01-03
From the Scientific American.
Are Ants CiVilizedl


The October number Of the Quarterly
Journal of Science contains an article OF
Our Six-Footed Rivals" the ants, which
may well cause US to believe that we are
not the only rational and civilized being.
on this globe.
/ Let US suppose that we are suddenly
informed, on good authority, that there
/ existed a race of beings who lived il
domed habitations, aggregated together
so as TO form vast and populous cities
that they exercised Jurisdiction over tn,
/ adjoining territory, laid out regular roads
/ executed tunnels underneath the bed.
/ of rivers stationed guards at the en-
I trance of their towns, carefully removed
any offensive matter. maintained a rural
| police, organized extensive hunting ex
/ peditious, at times even waged war upon
neighboring communities, took prisoners
and reduced them TO a state OF slavery
that they not merely stored up proyis
ions with due care, but that they kept
cattle and even cultivated the soil and
gathered in the harvest. We should un.
questionably regard these creatures az
human beings who had made no small
progress in civilization, and should
ascribe their actions TO reason.
Among the hymaiopferea the lead is un.
doubtedly taken by the ants, which, like
man, have q brain much more highly de.
veloped than that Of the neighboring in.
ferior groups. Perhaps the most elevated
Of the formicide family is the agricul-
tural ant Of western Texas This species
is, save man, the only creature which
does not depend for is sustenance on the
products of the chase or the spontaneous
NrsuT - ~ - a a
ants will clear tract Of ground some
four feet in width, around their city, and
remove all plants, stone, aud rubbish. A
species OF minute grain, resembling rice,
is sown therein and the field is carefully
tended, kept free from weeds, and guard
ed against marauding insects. When
mature, the crop is reaped and the seeds
dried and carried into the nest II this
is done near a larger city the latter re-
gard il as an intrusion, and q fierce war.
fare results, which ends in the total de
struction Of one or the other side. The
queens are treated with great attention
and installed in royal apartments.
The ant government is communistic
In formicary there is no trace Of pri
vate property; the territory, the build.
ings, the stores, the booty, exist equally
for the benefit Of all The family among
them scarcely exists. Rarely is the union
Of the male and female extended beyond
the actual intercourse, all provision for
the future young devolving upon tho
latter alone, the former being speedily
killed, as he is no longer OF any use. The
females are the larger, stronger. and
more long lived. The workers and fight
ers are sexless; TO them belongs the real
government Of the anthill, and they
provide for its enlargement, well being.
and defence.
Ants are sometimes very stupid in re-
gard to small things, but in many instances
they display remarkable sagacity. Mr.
Belt, in his Naturalist in Nicaragua
tells Of a column of ants who were cross.
ing a watercourse by a small branch not
thicker than q goose quill They widen
ed this natural bridge TO three times its
width by a number of ants clinging to il
and to each other on each side, over
which the column passed four deep,
thus etfecting a great saving OF time.
Again, the eci,OH iegi0HiS, when attacking
the hill of another species, digs mines
and passes the pellets OF earth from ant
to ant until placed at a sufficient dis
tance outside to prevent il rolling back
into the hole. Their errors and stupidi-
" are uOA Al0EG N0u1 NlGAOA1t hVhNhNAf
than among the human beings.
These tiny creatures have a language
by which they can impart TO each other
information Of a very definite character,
and not merely general signals, such as
those Of alarm. 1t has been found that
ants fetched by a messenger seem, when
they arrive at the spot, to have some
knowledge OF the task which is awaiting
them. Their principal organs OF speech
are doubtless the antenne; with these.
when seeking to communicate intelli-
gence, they touch each other in a variety
Of ways There is a possibility that they
have a language OF odors, for the various
scents given off by them are easily per.
ceptible. Under the influence Of anger
it becomes very intense. In battles how,
save by scent, can they distinguish friend
/ from foe7 After a lapse Of several
months q former companion will be re-
ceived kindly into the nest, but a
/ stranger is killed.
More wonderful than their intelligence
/ is their organization. IL separate they
would be helpless, and probably soon be
come extinct. Mr.. Belt observed q
marching column OF eeii9Hs in the prime.
/ val forests Of Nicaragua. A dense body
OF ants, four yards wide, moved rapidly
/ in one direction, examining every Granny
and fallen leaf. At intervals larger and
lighter colored individuals would often
stop aud run a little backward, apparent
ly giving orders. On the flanks and ia
advance OF the main body, smaller col
umns would push out, which pursued th,
cockroaches, grasshopPers, and spider