Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-01-12
Strategy versus strength.

The sand-hOrnet is the greatest villain
that flies on insect wings, and he is built
| for "a professional murderer. lie carries
two keen cimetars besides deadly poison
ed poniard, and is armed throughout with
an invulnerabia coat of mail. He has
things his own way; he lives u life OF tyr
amy and feeds on blood. There are few
birds-none that L know of-that care TO
swallow this red-hot morsel. 1t is said
that not even the butcher bird bankers
after him. The toad will not touch him,
seeming 10 know by instinct what sort of
chain lightning he contains. Among in
sects this hornet is the harpy-eagle, and
nearly all of them are at his mercy. Even
the cicada, or drumming ,harvest-fy, an
insect often larger and heavier than him
self, Is his very common victim. Ccnsid
Cring these characteristics, 1t was of espec-
ial interest To witness such an incident as |
have here pictured, where one of these
huge tyrants was actually captured and
overpOwered by the strategy Of three black
ants.
had left the meadow, and was ascend
ing a spur of the mountain by the edge of
pine wood, when suddenly | espled the
hornet in question almost at my feet He
Immediately took 10 wing, and as he flew
on ahead of me | observed long pendant
object dangling from his body. The in
cumbrance proved too great an OBSTACLE for
continuous flight, and he soon dropped
again upon the path, rod or 80 in advance
of me. overlook him, and on a close in
spection discovered a plucky black ant
ciutching tightly with its teeth upon the
hind foot OF the captive, while with Its two
hind-legs il clung desperately 10 a long
cluster of pine needles which il carried as
a dead weight. 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 a belief, for a
second ant lmm, daLely appeared upt the
scene, emerging hurriedly from IA neigh
boring pine-tree moss. He was too late,
however. for the hornet again sought TO
escape In flight. But this attempt was
even more futile than the former, for that
plucky little assailant had now laIi hold
of another impediment, and this time not
only the long pine needless but a small
branched stick also went swinging through
the air. Only yard or so was covered in
this fight; and as the ant still yelled for
re-enforcements, its companion again ap-
peared. and rushed upon the common foe
with such furious zeal that felt like pat
ting him on the back. The whole signih-
canoe of the scene he had taken in at a
glance, and III an instant he had taken a
vice like grip upon the other hind.le
Now came the final tug of war. The hor
net tired to rise, but this second passenger
was too much for him; he could only buzz
along the ground, dragging his load after
him, while his new assailant clutched des-
perately at everything within its reach, now
dried leaf, now tiny stone, and even
overturning an acorn cup In its grasp. FL
nally, small, rough stick, the size of a
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 tumbed, but to no
purpose, except to make it very lively for
his taptors; and the thrusts of that lively
little dagger were wasted on the desert air,
for whether Or not those ants knew ITS
searching propenslties, they certainly man.
aged to keep clear of this busy extrem-
| ity.
How long this pell-mell 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 lay hold of a third stick
and at the same time clutch upon those
pine needles to add their impeachment tc
| 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 hand seemed
a problem. But it was 10 them only 6
question of patience. They had now pinned
their victim securely, and held him tC
await assistance. 1t came. The entire
Leighborhood had been apprised of the
battle, and in less than five minutes the
ground swarmed with an army of re. enforce
ments. They came from all directions;
they pitched upon that hornet with terrible
ferocity, and his complete destruction was
now only question of moments.