The Lambertville record., 1881-12-07
STRATEGY tERsUS sfRBN b fH.

ne nu-nofnet ~ bne gfeatesk Ffilatu Enas
| flies on insect wings, and he is built for pro-
fessional murderer. He carries two keen
cimeters besides deadly poisoned poniaid,
and Is armed throughout with an invulner-
able coat of mail. He has things all his own
way he lives life of tyranny and feeds on
blood. There are few birds--none that !
know oi-that care to swallo-s sach rsd-hot
morsel. 1t is said tha. not even the butcher
bird bankers after him. The toad will not
touch him, seeming to know by instinct what
sort of chain-lightning he contains Among
insects this hornet is the happy eagle, aud
nearly all of them are at his mercy. Even
the cicada, or drumming harvest. fly, an in
sect often larger and heavier than himself, is
his very common victim. Considering these
characteristics it was of especial interest to
witness such an incident as have here pic
tured, where Que of these huge tyrants was
actually captured aud osefpowered by the
strategy of three black ants.
had left the meadow, aud was ascending
a spur Of the mountain by the edge of pine
wood, when suddenly | esped the hornet in
question almost at my feet. He Immediately
took 10 wing, and as he few on ahead of me
observed long pendant object dangling
from his body. The incumbrance proved too
great an obstacle for continuous flight, aud
he soon dropped again upon the path, a rod
on a close inspection discovered plucky black
ant olutching tightly with its teeth upon the
hind foot of its captive while with its two
hind legs il clung desperately to a long cluster
of pine needles which it carried as dead
weight. No sooner did the hornet touch tho
ground than the ant began to tug aud yell for
help. There were certainly evidences to war;
rant such belief for a second ant fnmedi-
ately appeared upon the scene, emerging hur-
riedly from neighboring thicket OF pine-tree
moss He was too late, however, for the
Hornet again sought escape in flight. But
this attempt was even more futile than the
former, for that plucky little assailant had
now laid hold of another impedment, and
this time not only the long pine needles, but
small branched stick also, went swinging
through the air. Only yard or so was COW
cred in this flight and as the ant still yelled
for re-enforcements, its companion again APP
peared, aud rushed upon the common foe with
such furious zeal that ! felt like pattng him
on the back. Tho whole significance of The
scene he had taken 10 at a glance, and in an
instant he had taken vise-like grip upon the
other hind leg. Now came the final tug of
war; The hornet tried to rise, but this second
passenger was too much for him he could
only buzz along the ground, dragging his
! s.--s
cd desperately at everything within its reach,
now dried leaf, now q tiny stone, and even
overturning an acorn cup in its grasp. Final
ly, small rough stick the size of match
was secured, aud this proved the last straw
In vain were the struggles of escape. The
hornet could do no more than lift his body
from the ground. He rolled and kicked and
tumbed, but to no purpose, except to make
1t very lively for his captors aid the thrusls
of that lively dagger were wasted on the desert
air, for whether or not those ants knew its
searching propensities, they certainly man
aged to Keep clear of this busy extremity.
How long this pell-mell battle would have
lasted I know not, for third ant now appear
ed, and it Was astonishing to see him with
every movement of the hornet, h6 in turn
would lay hold Of a third stick, and at the
same time clutch upon those pine needles to
add their impediment to the burden of his
own body.
Practically the ants had won the victory
but what they intended to do with the floun-
dering elephant in their hands seemed pro-
blem. But it was to them only question Of
patience. They had now pinned their victim
securely, aud held him to await assistance
IT came. The entire neiglborhood had been
apprised of the battle and in less than five
minutes the ground swarmed with an army
of re-enforcements. They came from all d-
rections they pitched upon that hornet with
terrible ferocity, and his complete destruction
was now only question Of moments. WI
lam HGmiitoa Gibson.