The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-12-02
STRATEGY VERSUS STRENGTH.

The sand-bOrnet is the greatest viii
lain that flies on wing. and he is built
for a professional murderer. He car
ries two keen cimeters besides deadly
poisoned pionard. and is armed through
out with an invulnerable coat OF mail.
He has things his own way he lives a
life of tyranny and feeds on blood.
( There are few birds-none that | know
of-that care to swallow such Ted-hot
! morsel. 1t is-said that not even the
butcher bird Hnkers after him, The
toad will no touch him, seeming to know
by instinct what sort of chain-lightniEg
he contains. Among insects this hOr-
net is the harpy eagle, and nearly all of
them are at his mercy. Even the cica-
dia. or drumming harvest fly, an insect
often larger and heavier than bimselt,
is his very common victim. Consider
ing these characteristics, it was of spec
ial interest to witness such an incident
as I have here pictured, where one OF
these huge tyrants was actually captur-
ed and overpowered by the strategy of
three black ants.
I had left the meadow, and was as
cending a spur of the mountain by the
edge of a pine wood. when suddenly /
espied the hornet in question almost at
nv feet He Immediately took 70 wing,
and as he flew on ahead of me | observ-
ed long pendant object dangling from
his body, The incumbrance proved too
great an obstacle for continuous flight,
and he soon dropped again on the path,
a rod or so in advance of me. | over
took him. and on close inspection dis
covered a plucky black ant clutching
tightly with its teeth upon the hind
foot of its captive. while with its two
hind legs it chung desperately to long
cluster of pine needles which it carried
as dead weight No sooner had the hOr-
net touched the ground than the ant be-
gan to tug and veil for help. There
were certainly evidences to warrant such
a belief. for a second ant Immediately
appeared upon the scene, hurridly emer-
ging from npiChbOring thicket of pine
tree moss. He was too late, however,
for the hornet Immediately took to flight
But this attempt was even more futile
than the former for that plucky little
assailant had laid hold Of another imped-
iment. and this time not only the long
pine needles. but A small branched stick
also. went swinging through the air.
Only a yard or so was covered IN this
flight and as the ant still yelled for re-
/ Inducements, its companion again ap-
peared. and rushed upon the common
foe with such furious zeal that l felt like
patting him on the back. The whole
significance of the scene he had taken in
at a glance. and in an instant ne had ia
ken a vise-Iike grip on the other bind
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. drag
giEg"hls load after him. while his new
assaiIant clutched desperately at everv-
thing within its reach, now dried leaf,
now a tiny stone. and even OvertuTnlng
an acorn cup IN its grasp. Finally,
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 tumhled, but to
no purpose. except 30 make it very live
" for his captOTs and the thTustS of
that lively dagger were wasted on the
dessert air for whether or not these ants
knew its searching propensities, they
certainly managed to keep clear of this
busy extremity.
How long this pell-meu battle would
have lasted I know not. for a third ant
now appeared. and it was astonishing to
SEE MN Will every iubNttliSiiC " liC
hornet. he in turn would lay hold Of a
third stick. and at the same time would
clutch upon those pine needles to add
their impediment to the burden of his
own body.
Practically the ants had won the vic
tory. but what they intended to do with
the fOundering elephant on their hands
seemed a problem. But it was to them
only question of patience. They had
now pinned their victim securely. and
held him to await assistance. 1t came.
The entire neighhOrhOOd had been ap-
prised of the battle, and in less than five
minutes the ground swarmnd with an
army of re-infOrcements. They came
from all directions they pitched upon
that hornet with terrible ferOcitv. and
his complete destruction was only
question of moments " II. GibSsn.
an HIFDer's for December.