South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-01-27
ri hilary Ants of the Amazon.

The NiaeteeaM Century has the fol-
loving: The most astonishing insects,
l; nc, the most astonishing animals. in
The world, are The so.caIled foraging. or,
as they might more appropriately be
called, the military ants of the Amazon.
They belong to several species Of the
same genus, and have been carefully
watched ~ Bates. Belt. end o,her natu-
ralists. The following facts must. there
fore, be regarded as fully established:
Ecttoa teyioais moves in enormous ar
mics, and everything that these insects
/ 10 - done with the most perfect ia
stlnGt OF military organization. The
army marches IN the form Of rather
/ broad ani regular column, hundreds OF
/ yards in length. The object OF the
march is 10 capture and plumber other
insects. etc, for food. aud as the well
/ Organized host advances, It's devas; atinr
! 'egions set all other terrestrial life at
| defiance. From the main column there
are sent out smaller latera. columns. the
composing individuals OF which play the
! part OF Notwithstanding of in various
| d'reclons, and searching about with The
utmost activity fer insects, grubs, etc,
over every log AMI under evcry fallen
I leaf. ii prey Is found in sufficiently
small quantities for them TO manage a
lone. II IS immediately seized and car
.Ied 90 the main column but IL the a
mount is 100 large FOR the scouts them
selves 10 deal With messengers are sent
20 tbs main column. whence there is
Immediately dispatched "a detachment
large enough to cope via Ahe require
ments. Insects or other prey, which.
when Killed, are too large for siugls ants
10 carry, are torn IN pieces. and the
pieces conveyed bacl. TO Tie main army
by different individuals. Many insects
III IRVING 10 escape run up bushes snd
SHRUBS, where they are pursued from
lSig TO twig by their remursclcss one
mics, I'LL on arriving at some terminal
amiiicalion they must either submit to
Immediate capture by their pursuers
or drop down smid the murderous
hosts below.
"As already stated, all the epoils
"hich are taken by The scouts, or nv
the detachment sen. out in answer 10
their demands for assistance. are i'm
medialelV taken back 10 tie main army
or column by TWO smaller columns Of
carriers, which are constantly r.rnin0
IN two double rows (1ne Of each being
laden id the otLEr uotl. on either side
OF the main column there are cor instantly
running up ara down few Individuals
OF smaller size, lighter colo, having lar,
( ger heads than the c.her ants. These
/ appear 10 perform the duty Of officers.
! Tor iuey never leave their stations. and
! while actively running UP and down
the outsldes OF the column, they seem
intent only on maintaining orier IN
the march, stopping every now and
! then to touch some member Of the rank
and liie with tLcir antenn9, as if giyiuc
! rcctions.
When the scouts discovered wasps'
nest IN tree, strong force is sent out
from The main army, the nest is pulled
to pieces, and all the larvae in the nest
sre carried by the carrier columns to the
rear OF the army, while the wasps fix q.
round defenceless against the Invading
multl,udes. Or, if the nest of any other
species of ant is found, a similarly
strong forco is sent out, or even the
Whole army may be DETECTED toward il.
when with the utmost energy the in
Vulnerable insects set to work to sink
shafts and dig mines till the whole mes,
IL riiied OF its contents. In these min-
ing operations The Ecitons work with nm
extraordinary display of organized co.
operation; for those low down in the
shafts do not lose time by carving M
The earth which they cxcayste, bui pass
on the pellets TO those above, and the
ante on the surface. when they receive
the pellets, carry them only just for e.
nough to insure that they shall not roll
back again into the shaft, and after hav-
ing deposited them OF safe distance
Immediately hurry back for more.
The Lotions have no fixed nest than
! selves, bat live as it were on n per
petual campaign At night however.
they call halt, and pitch a camp.
For this purpose they usually select n
piece of broken ground in the inter
shces of which they temporarily store
their plumber
A SQUIRREL KILLS A RArTLEsNAKE.
49, sftuivrci fJot IoJ -, -, 80.