The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-09
BATTLE OF ANTS.
The March of Two Armies, the Desperate
Attack and Heroic Repulse.

Attack aud Heroic Repulse.
In the summer. year ago. a SWARM
Of black ants. Formica Pennsylvania.
built their nest between the ceiling and
roof of she'd near our dwelling in tho
suburbs of Philadelphia. AT n distance
of few hundred feet from the shed n
second colony of the same species had
also built home in a sheltered place
Both nests were unusually uopulous.
Battles between ants of different Spe-
cies. fought for the purpose of captur-
ing slaves, have been often deScr bed.
But on a bright morning in August /
was n witness of fight between these
two colonies of the same species. which
| could have been waged for no SIch pur-
pose, and which gave the occasion for
Il greater display OF forethOught on the
part of the combatantS than is usually
conceded II the ant.
The nest in the roof was the one at
sacked. The only approach to it from
the ground was by Il post and plastered
wall about SIX feet high. A smooth
plank floor fitted closely against the
wall and post. and was raised above the
ground by low step. This floor was
the scene of the conflict.
While | stood wondering at the unu-
sual cOmmOtion | saw at the distance
of few feet host of small workers,
closely followed by great horde of
soldiers streaming along fence from
the other distant nest. They must have
numbered thousands. In a very short
time these hostile workers had descended
the fence to the ground, swarmed up
the steps to the door, and poured in
crowds upon the defensive scouts. The
antagonists rushed upon each other.
and with their strong Jaws cut of here
leg and there an antenna, and some
times severed the body of an opponent
ut blow. The foremost soldiers OF the
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 the floor,
moving deliberately onward in dense.
black mass, crushing the smaller foes
rs they advanced. In a few moments
the small workers were either all killed
or retired from the front. Then the
battle between the soldiers OF the OPP
posing forces began in earnest.
Hating Il moment till their
ranks were close and compact,
though by no means regular, the
invaders advanced to the attack in a
dense mass. seeming to completely cover
the floor over which they moved. In
this close array they met the defenders,
whom they greatly outnambere1. They
were received, however, with 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 undistingu;shable crowd.
single champions were seen rushing
around the floor seeking foe. When
two of these champions approached
each other mutual examination with
the ends of Their antenna seemed neces-
sarv 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
enemy they rushed upon one another
with the utmost rage, ciincded both
with feet and Jaws, and. doubling them
selves up, rolled over the floor. biting
and tearing. each other, entirely I'M
sturbed in Their deadly work by being
lifted up into the air with 4 pair of
forceps. At one 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 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 victor, GUS 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 engage n the the general
fight, and ONLY took part in it at all
wen the attack NO soldiers tried to pass
them to reach the nest.
The fight lasted about five hours and
ended in 4 10 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 fastene,. upon them by his
jaws in n death embrace. In many
cases these attacked foeman were found
to cons st only Of a pair of Jaws and
head all the rest of the 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
20 remove it.-Cor. Pr {aFe'phia Ledger.