The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-06-27
ANTS IN BATTLE.


Terrible Death Struggles.
An ant home is beautiful model of
industry and order There their rule
seems to be mild but firm; yet they can
be even warlike when occasion de-
mands Perhaps in no other situation
do they show as well their divinely as
cribed wisdom as when called upon to
face the enemy.
When ants go forth to battle, it is not
with rush, or confused scramble.
for though they have mo guide, over
seer and ruler" never was an army
more systematic in its tactics.
The van Is reformed every few min
utes. new line coming to the front.
pushing on for q little distance and
then dropping to the rear, thus giving
each rank in turn chance to share in
the point of danger. When nearing
their adversaries the column halts, and
masses itself together for the grand as
sault, which is made with impetuous
bravery. Nor are they satisfied until
one of the parties is entirely over
thrown, and this finishes the combat
1t is queer enough to see the columns
approach, and become aware of each
others presence, there is momentary
pause, during which thrill like rip
pie passes down the line which is plain
| ly visible to lockers on, creating all the
way the widest excitement. Even the
ants in the nests catch the spirit as
they appear and rush towards the point
of danger, while the opposing army
hurries up its tagging columns. The
pause for preparation is short one,
and then comes the shock of battle, and
what a struggle there is.
They lock their jaws together, crush
antenna and legs, grapple in groups of
a dozen or more, roll over and over,
dash rank upon rank, one seething mass
of hot anger and carnage. Soon dead
bodies begin to be scattered about, and
scores of wounded ants painting from
the contest and in the last agonies of
death give convulsive struggle and
rest And so the battle goes on until
the last band of reserves has persisted
on the ''field of honor" For few
minutes the conquerors seem to run
about in the most excellent spirits, and
if they meet with foe on the way
whose life is still in him, it is surpris-
ing with what vindictiveness they
pounce on their poor victim and finish
the work of death.
After while this feeling of exulta-
ton subsidies and they seem to realize
the sad havoc they have made. Them
the better side of their nature is seen in
| gentle acts of kindness and brotherly
love, and it is really affecting to see the
manner in which they try to rouse up a
wounded companion or fallen enemy,
rub him with their feelers and try to
lift him on his legs, and sometimes two
or three will be seen aiding some poor,
manned ant back to the hill from
whence it came, while around the home
there is all the solemnity of house Of
mourning, all work ceased and the
wants of nature for the time forgotten.
And if they are nearly gone and there
seems to be the least chance of resusci-
tation, they roll them in the dust.
brush them, rub them, then stretch
themselves upon their dying bodies to
warm them into life, if possible. Then
they roll them and rub them again if
signs of returning life are visible, most
untiring in their devotion.
Sometimes a legion of large russell
ants will march in body with great
rapidly, their troop occupying space
of from eight to ten feet long by three
or four inches wide. In few minutes
they will entirely evacuate the road and
penetrate through dense hedge into
a meadow, winding their way along the
turf without straying in the least, their
column always remaining continuous
in spite of the obstacles found in their
way. Arriving near the nest of black
ants. whose dwellings are built often
amid the grass, perhaps twenty feet
from the road, a few of these ants at
the door of their habitation, seeing
them approach, throw themselves upon
those at the head of the army. The
to the interior of the nest, their COM
panions rush out in crowds from all the
subterranean passages. The russell
ants, the body of whose army hastens
to arrive at the nest. precipitate them
selves forward, knocking the black ants
head over heels, who. after very short
but sharp combat, retire to the extreme
end of the habitation. The russell ants
at the same time climbing the sides Of
the hill, even to the top. appear in great
numbers in all the avenues.
Other groups work with their teeth,
making lateral opening. After sue
ceeding in this the rest of the army pen
citrate through the breach into the be-
siege,l city,. They do not make long
tarry there, for in three or four moments
. the russets come out again in haste.
each one carrying in its mouth pupa
belonging to the conquered. These
pupa or larva are nursed by the robbers,
, who are great kidnappers as well, and
, the black ants produced therefrom are
afterwards found toiling most patiently
for the benefit of the spoilers. 1t but just
to say, however, that they treat their
captives with the utmost kindness,
which is fully reciprocated by these lit
, tie servants.