New-York tribune., 1878-10-26
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.

SLAVE MAKING ANTs.-At the last meeting
OF the Philadelphia Academy Of Sciences the rev.
DIR. McCook exhibited the formcaries OF TWO specles
Of slave-making ants, and described Fslt W
formicary Of pOlyergus Meidus the American repre-
sentative Of the Amazon ant discovered at the foot OF
the Alleghany Mountains, near Altoona The slaves
which wee found in considerable numbers mingled
with their captOrs were engaged in cleaning out 'he
galleries dragging the pellets OF sand TO te openings
apparently with the design of closing them Nome OF the
ucidus ants were engaged In this work Another
norton OF the slaves were engaged in an extensive
migration. Afew OF them carrying their fellows,
but for the most part the deportation was conned 10
the males and females OF lucidus. The slave "oulu
approach the winged queen, and after the usual
touching and crossing OF anennR, the mandlDles were
tightly ncrlocked the head of the slave was raised
aud simultaneously the body OF the queen was drawn
back stretched out In a straight line and then doubled
under the thoIax OF the slave In this position the
large virgin queens carried up the peFpenuicul
face Of the cutting for eighteen or twenty inches'
and then for the distance OF SIX rect over
the ground, and through the grass. The time
consumed IN this journey was a few seconds
over a minute The slaves sometimes seemed
10 have an objection to the masters remaining
above ground and would uncoremonously seize them
and carry them below. lie Lad econ master thus
seized several times, each time returning in doggcd
sort Of resistance 10 the Will OF the seryitOr The mas
Work; thr colony was chdIEtu several
in order 10 iuctc 10 work in mining galleries ana
rooms; clusters Of ncidus placed by themselves,
but they awavs remained Iil. Neither do they attempt
to eat Sugar was freely consumed 10y the slaves until
they became gorgcd, ana from them the masters doubt
less received their nOurshment, for they were always
in good condition The lsllese, heavy manner that Is
characteristic luciaus wholly changed at any arm'
hc presence Of an enemy. Her true character ana
duty as guardian of the community then appears.
specimen Of formica saugulUca from the
other nest having been PAT INTO the poSci-
gus colony quick thought the hostile presence was
discovered, ana lucidUS suIHu@ uHou the sahEulhcd
ANA seized her near the iHiod' SNrIi' saves I"h !"
the fray, and took part by selling me Ices ANA irn
ot the intruder Not wt.Iu- su'h an unequal conner
l" "conllhue' ,He p.h,IHi ''" , "a, %
ana set apart TO tght % out aIy Lu'di~ had lhc h
guinea gaspcd ny the face 40 iGe eye WIN her nlnGihlr
when HI-t removed. Snc then began "auliou'N and
deity release her hold, preparing herself Mcln"Ic
for grand co0p whru She effected by seZnG htrae 10y
the n"ck and apparently cjtcuE Po-ouuu, hIu VpUn
the face ana mouth of the s'ugiuca The comHat'ht~
LucIdus, however, mad lost pari oi her anicnjc Hay
ING been returned To her nest, the haitIo.cdif"d ANA
u % ,r i .n d I,,, i, dn,r1, by her iopUd an
tcnHT, without Offering the sehe, resistance Inc late
tL ,yIlIT Ingcd her body ana dr,opcd her limbs
Ike criminal in the Gluten Of policeman. Two days
acrWard the same veteran, recognized by her muti2-
ion WAS seen once more ouIetIv pcrambulatIng the
the battle her body had been tainted by .one odor pc
1t may b, that the loss OF part Of her ntcnht was
the cause OF this hostile treatment
IMPROVED CARBON PHoTOGRAPlTs. Quite
recently saws The Manufacturer ant B9tiicr, Mcssrs
Estabrooko Naegle, OF NcwYork City have published
an OF Improvement in the carbon process, 80
important that they think win create arcvOution IN
the art by it the most beautiful results arc attained
The special materials are composed Of gcatne
and color; a scnszlnG solution, temporary support
and transfer paper The tissue which TO receive the
picture Is prepare with gcatne and color and is spread
upon paper This tissue is rendered sensitive TO the
action Of light IN the usual way by beng immersed
in a solution Of bclromate OF potash. When the tissue
is dry it is exposed TO light under negative The ac
ton Of light through the negative upon the tissue rem
ders the parts acted upon msOluDle in water. The
exposed tissue being immersed in water until it becomes
flexible is applied, face downward, TO the temporary
support which IN this is sheet Of glass the sur
face Of which is prepared first with solution Of wax
and afterward coated with cOllOdOn Before drying it
is immersed in water TO wash from It's surface the
surplus ether and alcohol, which leaves it IN
condition to receive the exposed tissue The
paper rendered pable by bath OF epld water comes
away from the glass leavnghe geatine pigment behind
The water washes the soluble portions of the geatine
glass in relief After tins dried the transfer paper
which has been prepared with gelatine surface and
sofened in warm water is applied 10 TIE picture on the
glass and pressed firmly down. When II Is dry 1t leaves
the glass, bringing the picture and the coolon surface
with It. The chief merit claimed for the carbon process
is its pcrmanencY 1t does not fade aud IT Is capable OF
variety OF color ana or surface from the
highest gloss to dead black. Astis made In pigments,
II l. possible give It body producing great strength
while il can be made as delicate the sOfest silver
PRINT.
NOVEL APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The electric light has been successfully applied TO the
bicycle by an enthusiastic EngliShman The motor is
the hind wheel of the bicycle, and the apparatus Is
small ordinary magneto-oecric machine with rotary
magnet aided by q small pocket battery. The carbOns
are regulated by train OF Wheels worked by the front
wheel Of the bicycle, the consumption being about