The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-23

The sand-hornet is the greatest
villain that flies on wings, and he is
built for professional murderer.
He carries two keen cimeters be-
sides deadly poisoned poniard,
and is armed throughout with an
coat of mail. He has
things all his own Ways he lives
life Of tyranny and fcetls on blood.
There are few birds-none that |
know of-that care to swallow such
red-hot morsel. 1t is said that 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
harpy eagle, and nearly all of them
are at his mercy. Even the cieada,
or drumming harvest-fy, an insect
often larger and heavier than him
self, is his very common victim.
Considering these characteristics, it
was of especial interest to witness
such an incident as / have here
pictured, where one of these huge
tyrants was actually captured ald
overpowered by the strategy of three
black ants.
l had left the meadow, and was
ascending spurof the mountain by
the edge of a pine wood, when sud-
denly espied the hornet in ques-
ton almost at my i,et. He imme-
diately took to wing, and as he few
on ahead Of me / observed a long
pendant object dangling from his
body. The incumbrance proved too
great an obstacle for continuous
flight, and he soon dropped again
upon the path, rod or so in adj
vance of me. / overlook him, and
on close inspection discovered a
plucky black ant elutching tightly
with its teeth upon the hind-foot of
its captive, while with its two hind
legs it clung desperately to a long
cluster of pine needles whichit car
ried as dead-weight. No sooner
did the hornet touch-t the ground
than the ant began to tug and yell
for help. There were certainly evil
dences to warrant such a belief, for
a second ant Immediately appeared
upon the scene, emerging hurriedly
from a neighboring thicket of pine
tree moss. He was too late, howey-
er, for the hornet again sought es-
cape in flight. But this attempt
was even more futile than the for
mer, for that plucky little assailant
had now laid hofd of another i'm
pediment, and this time not only
the long pine needles, but a small
branched stick also, went swinging
through the air. Only yard or so
was covered in this flight and as
the ant still yelled for re-inforcments,
its companion again appeared, and
upon the common foe with
such furious zeal that felt like pat
ting him on the back. The whole
of the scene he
had taken in 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 hor-
net tried to rise, but this second
was too much for him
be could only buzz along the ground,
dragging his load after him, while
his new assailant clutched desper-
ately at everything within its reach,
now dried leaf, now tiny stone,
md even overturning an acorn-cup
in its grasp Finally, a small rough
stick the size of match was secured,
and 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 tumbled, but
10 no purpose, except to make it
very lively for his captors and the
.hrusts of that lively dagger were
wasted on the dessert air, for wheth-
sr or not those ants knew its search
ing propensities, they certainly man.
aged to keep clear of this busy ex-
tremity.
How long this peil-meli battle
would have lasted / know not, for
third ant now appeared, and it was
astonishing to see him with every
of the hornet, he in turn
would lay hold of a third stick, and
1T the same time clutch upon those
pine needles to add their impedi-
ment to the burden of his own
body.
Practically the ants had won the
victory, but what they intended to
do with the Houndering elephant in
their hands seemed a problem. But
it was to them only n question of
patience. They had now pinned
their victim securely. and held him
to await assistance. 1t came. The
entire neighborhood had been ap-
prised Of the battle, and in less than
five minutes the ground swarmed
with an army of re-enforcements.
They came from all directions they
pitched upon that hornet with ter
rible ferocity, and his complete de-
was now only q question
of moments.-W. III. GIBSON, in
Harper's for December.