Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-01-15
Laaf.cuEtinn Ants.

In my rambles discover a nest Of the
large black leaf cutting ant (the Geo
doma) found over the entire South
American continent and leading mem
Der of that social tribe Of insects ot
which it has been said that they rank in
tellectually next to ourselves. Certainly
this ant, in its actions, stimulates mans
intellect very closely, and not in the
unpleaaant manner Of species having
warrior castles and slaves. The leaf cut
ter is exclusively agricultural in its hab-
its, and constructs subterraneous CALLER
les in which it stores fresh leaves ia
amazing quantities. The leaves are not
eaten, but are cut up into small pieces
and arranged in beds; these beds quick
ly become frosted over with growth Of
q minute fungus; this the ant industri-
ously gathers and stores for use, and
when the artificial bed il exhausted the
withered leaves are carried out to make
room for layer Of fresh ones. Thus the
Ecodoma literally grows its own food,
and in this respect appears to have
reached stage beyond the most
highly developed ant communities hith-
erto described. Another interesting fact
is that, although the leaf cutters have
peaceful disposition, never showing r.
sentiment except when gratuitously inter
fered with, they are just as courageous AZ
any purely predatory species, only their
angry emotions and warlike qualities
always appear to be dominated by
reason and the public good. Occasion
allya community Of leaf cutters goes
to war with neighboring colony ot
ants Of some other species; in this, as Id
everything else, they seem to act with
definite purpose and great deliberation
Wars are infrequent, but in all those /
have witnessed-and I have known this
species from childhood fate Of the
nation is decided in one great pitched
battle. "A spacious bare level spot Of
ground is chosen, where the contending
armies meet, the fight raging for several
hours at stretch, to be renewed On
severalconsecutive days. The combatants,
equally sprinkled over wide area, are
seen engaged in single combat or in
small groups, while others, not fighters,
run briskly about, removing the dead
and disabled warriors from the field 81
battle Gcntleman's Magazine.
Congressman Who Drink Hot Water.
''Do many Congressman drink hot
water2" asked Washington correspond.
ent Of an attendant at the fountain IA
amember set down the steaming glass
and walked out with satisfied air. 'In-
deed, they do, boss; indeed they do.
Lots Of them drink it nowadays. Funny,
amt it9 There's MFR. Hatch. Of Mis-
souri, he drinks powerful sight Of So
two glasses at time generally. Mr..
Breckenridge, OF Arkansas-he drinks
heap Of it, too. Then there's Colonel
HaIsell, Of Kentucky, he's regular
visitor to the hot water springs here.
In fact, they all drink more Of less of III
now The habit seems to ID growing
on them. "A good many men that didn't
drink it last winter do now, ana them
as drank it occasionally then drink it nov
every day, ana sometimes two glasses at
time.
.tWhat 40 they drink it for9r
"Why, for everything. Dyspepsia,
kidney complaint, heartburn, rhsuna-
tism. indigestion, headache-most every
thing, in fact
50 il j. that hot water and ''cold tea
can be said to be tile congressional
drinks Of the period.