The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-04
THE INSECT WORLD.
Interesting Study of the
Habits Of Gods Small
Creatures.
THE sAGACITy AND INDUSTRY OF
ANS.
Spiders and Their Enemies.

Leaving the ruins of the home OF the
wssp, described in the last article, | went
on my way until sense OF fatigue made
me more than willing 10 enjoy season
of rest under the shadow OF "a large tree.
II Is not necessary that one SHOULD go in
search Of subjects In the insect world.
II we fail to ind them ourselves, in due
time, If We wait, some one Of the won
drous throng that 20 buzzing and crawl
ing and struggling through life will be
sure to furnish occasion for our notice
The trunk of the great tree, whose csthe-
drsl dome of foliage now rose above me,
soon afforded opportunity for entertain
ment. Reclining at its base, amused
myself by annoying the struggling indi-
viduals OF a variety Of Large black ant,
caravans of which are frequently seen
passing and repsssing up and down this
rugged highway These restless travellers,
for the most part, came from distance
through a wilderness of underground,
where they have been exposed TO many
dangers. But like all other living crea.
lures, they have their living to make, and
must do the best they can. Now and then
| tucy are rccu w mCCt OaNn V'hOi nav,
put their heads together, for an
portsnt information. They separate
and after a slight pause, as II for polite
ness sake, hurry of with more than
official anxiety as II charged with the
most pressing business. Up and down
they go through miniature canons and
rugged channels and hiding places fur.
rowed into the ancient tree by time and
decay. They seem utterly regardless OF
obstacles and enemies The short inter
view We have just observed always means
something. Like all other creatures, ex-
cept' man, they do nothing in vain or
simply for effect In their short inter
views they recognize their friends and
discover their enemies, and in some
mysterious and still unknown way
communicate the discovery Of some food
treasure, which, perhaps, one of them
has found. He finds 1t necessary TO i'm
part the intelligence to others, because
il will require the united efforts OF his
companions to secure the find before ii
can. fall into the possession Of some
other claimant. Whatever may be the
hidden source OF this power 1t is agreed
On all hands that these communications
and recognilions are made Immediately
through the use of their aDtennp or feel
ers," as they are generally called. This
is proven by the fact that whenever an
ant loses these delicate and important APP
pendges, by the fate of war or otherwise,
he is thereby rendered almost helpless.
Curiously enough, in such a case, he be-
/ IL, - ri 70 nd ~ IL
companions, who manifest their cOnctrn
by attending sedulously to all bis bodily
wants.
On the present occasion my Interrupt
tiOns were in the way of an experiment
Ny effort was TO stop each set Of travel
lers and. If possible, drive them back to
the way they had come, and to divert
them from their several purposes. Wig
orous as stag hounds and far more intel
ligent, this could never he done unless
they were killed outright. Avoiding
every obstacle put in their way, they
would push resolately on their journeys
up toward the leafy solitudes or down
the rugged ribs Of the tree, bearing back
TO their homes the secrets OF the expeii-
tions they had undertaken. Once | had
feared, when observing these and other
varieties OF ants, that in their wander
ings of from their nests that they were
lost, and sense of regret came over me
that they were thus wasting their strength
and time and wished they could be re-
lieved from their forlorn condition. In
due time, however, found they knew
better what they were doing than ! did.
To undertake the whole story of their
lives, even as connected with this single
old tree, would require too much time
and space. But II the reader will allow.
enough may be here told to satisfy him
that these tireless marauders were not
undertaking their journeys in vain.
Some of these ants actually keep for
their own use-milch COWS on the trees
they climb. These arc generally 10 be
found at the extreme end of some re-
mote twig where they may the better en-
| Joy the heat and light of the sun. No
matter how far off their pets may be
they 90 regularly for their supply OF the
delicious food they derive from them,
following accurately each dividing branch
of trunk and limb and twig until they
find the object of their search. The
small insects whose pleasure II seems to
Weld this food submits 10 the caresses OF
the ant, under whose gentle attentions
delicate secretion is yielded, which the
latter delights to sip. Others are more
luxurious and aristocrstic in their tastes.
They know of kind of insect which
will supply them food better at their own
homes. so they go in search of the young,
capture and carry them 10 their nests,
and rear them, so that they are not
obliged to resort 10 the more plebeian
way of getting their meals. Other ants,
lower in the social scale, find themselves
obliged to search for what is known as
honey dew. a swedish exudation from
the leaves of trees, which becomes con.
crete on their shining surfaces, and at
times is so abundant that ii drops in deli
cate showers to the favored earth. This
forms a dainty repsst for his ant-ship-
one that even Titania and her eifin train
might enjoy, as did her mystic band the
Honey bags" raped from humble
bees" Others of our friends are here in
pursuit OF much palmer and more sub
stantial diet. These are glad to come
,,.os. 49, oa.ooc,o, - Joal ;,eoots uto..