The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-15

food, Will actually die of starvation
when no slaves are present to minister
to their wants. The spirit of caste ex-
lists in these tribes TO such an extent
that separate burial grounds are pro.
vided for the blacks and their mas.
ters.
Various trades and professions are
represented in ant life. The harvest
ants of Texas are true agriculturiSts.
They clear the grounds surrounding
their habtations for space of ten OF
twelve feet IN diameter of every kind
of weed and grass, except particular
plant called ant-rice. This they culti-
vate with care, and when the seed ma
lures they harvest it carefully. throw
ing aside the chaif and storing away
the grain. Ii is even stated by some
observers that they plant the seed of
ant rice, as well as care for it while
growing. A similar species in India
stores away such quantities of grain as
10 become an object of much search,
and the ownership of the nest is fire.
quently Il matter of dispute and ltiga-
tion. These ants have been known to
carry grain a distance of more than
half mile to their nests. TO prevent
the grain from sprouting. some spe-
cies carefully cut OFF the radicle; while
others are sugar manufacturers, per-
mitting the process of termination to
proceed just far enough for the pro-
duction of grape sugar, which they
prefer as food.
Many ants are shepherds or herds
men, and among these are numbered
most of our common species. Aphides,
or plant lice have the power of secret
ing sweet substance very nearly re-
sembling honey, being in fact the ar
ticle known to bee-keepers as honey
dew. Of this the ants are very fond
and the manner in which they procure
it is very interesting. The ant caresses
the aphis with IFS antenn@, and in re-
Spouse to these friendly attentions the
aphis causes a drop of nectar to exude
from its honey gland, which is quickly
Tapped up by the ant. So the ant
actually milks the aphis-but this is
not all. They frequently keep herds
of aphides III their habitations, bear
them back and forth to their proper
food. sometimes build cow-sheds over
them of turf or other materials to pro-
tect them from insectiverous enemies,
and carry them along from place to
place when changing their abode. The
eggs OF aphides that are laid in Octo-
Der, and would probably be destroyed
in the severe winter, are carried by the
ants into their own nests, and are as
carefully attended as their own young.
In the spring when the young aphides
are hatched, they are brought out by
the ants and placed on the plant that
serves as their appropriate food and
there they are regularly attended and
MIXED by their owners. They also
keep in domestication several species
of beetles. some of which have
never been found anywhere else
than in the ant-nestS, and the wild
species from which they have been do
are unknown. Some of
these beetles are unable to feed them
selves, but are regularly fed by the ants
for the sake of the food they afford.
The carpenter ants of Brazil con-
struct complicated dwellings out Of
leaves and sticks. The division of Ia
Dor is here found in perfect adaptation.
One class, that may be termed wood
choppers, climb the trees and cut off
he leaves. and drop them to the
ground below. Here they are picked
Up by porters that have been waiting
or the purpose, and carried away to
he nest. They are next taken in |
'harge by workers OF much smaller |
ize, who proceed to cure them IN the
un and then carry them into the nest. |
t the leaves while curing are wet by |
udden rain, they are left to decay
The leaves are used in lining
heir dwellings. Some observers as.
ert that they are sometimes used in
making compost heaps in underground
ooms in which the ants grow mush-
ooms for food. These leaf-cutters do
.reat damage to the orange groves
ometimes stripping an entire tree of
IS foliage in single night. They have
een known to tunnel under a stream
t water 80 feet wide and fifteen to
yenty feet deep, in order to reach an
range grove on the other side. Sey-
raj observers assert that they have
cen known in this manner to tunnel
nder the great river Paraiba, in Bro
i. To supply themselves with wa
u, they dig wells of considerable size.
)metimos foot in diameter and thirty
,et deep. They construct extensive
,adways, removing all obstacles from
well defined path and paving it with
cement of sand or clay, so as to per-
it of easy and rapid progress.
The driver ants of tropical countries
e veritable Bedou,ns. having no fixed
)ode, but breaking camp every four i