The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-12-04
BATTLE OF ANTS.


BATTLE OF ANTS.
rhe Marcn of Two Armies, tho Desperate
Attack and Heroic RepuIsc.
In the summer. year ago, swarm
of black ants, Formica Pennsylvanica,
built their nest between the ceiling and
roof of n shod near our dwelling in the
suburbs of Philadelphia. At distance
Of few hundred fcct from tho shod
second colony Of the same species had
also built home in a sheltered place.
10th nests were unusually populous
Battles between ants of different spc-
cics, fought for the purpose of captur-
ing slaves, have been often described.
But on II bright morning in August I
was n witness OF a fight between these
two colonies Of tho same species. which
could ka7o bocn waged for no such pur-
pose. and which gave the occasion for
grcatcr display of forethought on tho
part of the combatants than is usually
conceded to the ant.
The nest in the roof was the one at
tackled The only approach to it from
the ground was by Il post md plnstcred
wall about six feet high. A smooth
plank floor fitted closely against the
wall and post. and was raised above the
ground by n low stop. This floor was
the scene of the conflict.
Whilo stood wondering ut the unu-
sual commotion ! saw at the distance
of few feet II host of small workers,
closely followed by great horde of
soldiers streaming along a fence from
the other distant nest. They must have
numbered thousands. LII very short
time these hostile workers had descended
the fence to tho ground, swnrmed up
the steps to the door. and poured in
crowds upon the defensive scouts. Tho
antagonists rushed upon each other,
and with their strong jaws cut of here
Il leg and there an antcnna, and some-
times severed the body of an opponent
at a blow. The foremost soldiers OF tho
defensive party soon came to the rescue,
and the swarm of hostile workers were
driven back toward the step.
But by this time the soldiers Of the
attacking party had reached tho floor,
moving deliberately onward in a dense,
black mass, crushing the smaller foes
as they advanced. In few moments
the small workers were either all killed
or retired from the front. Then tho
battle between the sohiers of the op-
posing forces began in earnest.
Hating a moment till their
ranks were close and compact,
though by no means regular, the
invaders advanced to the attack in n
dense mass, seeming to completely cover
the floor over which they moved. In
this close array they met the defenders,
whom they greatly outnumbered. They
were received, however, with u courage
rs great as their own, and their ranks
were quickly broken up and thrown
into apparent disorder.
After the general charge had been
thus made and the combatants were
mixed in an undistngu;shable crowd.
single champions were seen rushing
around the floor seeking q foe. When
two of these champions approached
each other II mutual examination with
the ends of their antcnna seemed ncccs-
sary to tell foe from friend. Many such
meetings were friendly, and after the
salutation both would rush away ut full
speed. But when by the delicate test
Of feeling or whatever serves them to
thus dist nguish, each had found an
tucilNs tHCN lu~llCl upOu OlfC
with the utmost rage, clinched bot!,
with feet and Jaws, and doubling them
selves up, rolled over the floor, biting
and tearing each other, entirely un-
d sturbed in their deadly work by being
lifted up into the air with pair of
forceps. At ono time the floor was very
nearly black with these rolling combat
ants.
As the battle progressed the superior
numbers of the invaders drove the de-
tenders of their home slowly backward
TO the foot of the post. Then a number
of the small workers, who had been sta
toned upon the post, ran rapidly up to
the nest. In n moment fresh army of
soldiers, number ng many hundreds,
rushed from the nest, and, descending
the post, passed the guards at the base
and fell upon the victorious foe, driving
them back slowly but steadily to the
edge of the step. The guards at the
base of the post did not appear TO leave
their station to cngag IN the the general
fight. and only took part in it at all
when the attacking soldiers tried to pass
.hem to reach the nest.
The fight lasted about five hours and
| ended in n to'al rout OF the attacking
party. Toward the close the wounded,
doubtless of the invading party, were
seen dragging themselves off the field,
generally carrying with them some enc
my which had fastened upon them by his
jaws in death embrace. In many
cases these attacked foeman We're found
to cons st only of pair of Jaws and a
head. all tho rest of tho body having
been torn away in the fight. With bull
dog tenacity the head held on firmly, re-
sisting all efforts of the wounded ants
| to remove it.-Cor. Philadelphia Ledger.
SCIENCE AND FICTION.