Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22
Strategy Versus Stren,,n

The sand-hornet is the greatest villain that
flies on insect wings, and he is built for a pro-
iessional murderer. He carries two keen cine
tiers besides deadly poisoned poinard. and is
armed throughout with an invulnerable 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 of-that care to
swallow such red-hOt morsel. 1t is said that
not even the butcher-bird bankers after him.
Inc toad VIII not touch him, seeming to know
by instinct what sort of chain-lightning he con-
tairs Among insects this hornet is the harnv
eagle, and nearly all of them are at his mercy
Even the cicada, or drumming harvest-fy. an
insect often larger and heavier than himself. is
MS very common victim. Considering these
CHARACTERISTICS, it was of especial interest to
witness such an incident as | have here Dictrlred
where one OF these huge tyrants was actually
captured and Oyerpowered by the strategy of
three black ants
had left the meadow and was ascending a
| spur OF the mountain 10y the edge of pin e
wood. when suddenly | espied the hornet in
question almost at my feet. He Immediately
took to wing, and as he flew on ahead of me T
observed long pendent object dangling from
MS BODY The incumbrance proved too great
an obstacle for continuous flight and he soon
dropped again upon the path a rod or so in adj
vance OF me. L overlook him. and on a close
inspection discovered pucky black ant clutch
lng tightly with its teeth upon the hind-foot of
its captive. while with its two hind-leos if CHING
desperately to long cluster of pine needles
which it carried as a lightweight No sooner
did the hornet touch the ground than the ant
began to tug and yell for help. There were
certainly evidences to warrant such belief
Tor second ant Immediately appeared upon
the scene, emerging hurriedly from
neighoOrlng thichet Of pine-tree moss. He was
too late however. for the hornet again sOuoht
escape in flight. But this attempt was even
more futile than the former, for that plucky
little assailant had now laid hold of another i'm
pediment. and this time not only the long nine
needles, but small branched stick also. went
swinging through the air. Only a ward or so
was covered in this flight and as the ant still
yelled Tor reinforcements, its companion again
appeared. and rushed upon the common foe with
such furious zeal that felt like patting him on
the back. The whole significance of the scene
lie had taken In at glance. and in an instant he
n;id 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 passenser WAC
too much for him; he could only buzz alone the
ground, dragging his load after him. while his
new assailant clutched desperately at everything
WITHIN ITS reach, now dried leaf now a tiny
stone, and even overturning an acorn-cup in it's
grasp FINALLY. small rough stick the size of
match was secured. and this proved the .last
stray" In VAIN were the struggles of escape
The hornet could do no more than lift his bodv
| from the ground. He rolled and kicked and
very lively for his captOrs: and the thr,lsts of
that lively dagger were wasted on the desert air
Tor whether or not those ants knew its search
lDg Dropenslties they certainly managed to keen
clear of this busy extremity.
How long this pe-me battle would have
lasted know not for third ant now appeared
and it was astonishing to see him: with every
movement Of the hornet he in turn would Law
hold of third stick. and at the same time ciutch
upon those pine needles to add their impediment
TO the burden of his own body.
Practically the ants had won the victory Int
what they intended to do with the houndering
elephant in their hands seemed a problem. Rnf
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 neighborhoOd had been appraised of the
battle, and in less than five minutes the ground
swarned with an army of reinforcements
They came from all directions; they pitched upon
that hornet with terrible ferocity and his COM
plete destruction was now only question of
moments.-WitlidBa Hamilton Gibson in Hdr-
pe,'s Magazine.
A LOCOMOTIVE AT LARGE In THE STREETS OF
RlCHaoND-A singular accident occurred in
richmond Tuesday morning on the connecting
track between the Richmond and Danyille and
the Richmond and York river railroads.
train of freight cars was being transferred from
one depot to another when, by some defect in a
switch, nearly the whole train was turned Off ON
a siding. leaving the engine and several cars on
the main track. The conclusion caused the
throttle valve of the pnoipa RI no thrown omar,