Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21
The Ill.Tempered Red Ant.
From the st. James Gazette.

FROM tue ST. James Gazette.
"Eha." the wel-known Anglo-Indian ratu-
ralist. has just contributed in the Natural
History Society of Bombay an interesting and
characteristic paper on the habits Of the red
ant. That the scientific name OF this insect
should be ''the emerald ant (camponotus
smaragdinus) he conceives may have arisen
from the fact that the first specimen which
found Its way to Europe was queen, for she is
green, and handsome and striking insect.
After discussing the red ant at home Ella"
gives some instances from his own observation
OF its remarkable ferocity and courage. He
ssys:
The shepherd in 'Noctes Ambrosiana' saws
that the wasp is the only one of Gods creatures
which is eternaliy out of temper. But the
shepherd did not know the red ant; nor did
till lately. thought did, and by painful ex-
perience, too. had often had reason to no.
tee how they appear to have intimaton before
hand OF your intention to pass that way. How
they run down every branch that stretches
across the path and wait with jaws extended,
how they fling themselves on you or drop from
above, and, scorning to waste their strength on
your hat or clothes, find out the back of your
neck and bury their long sickle-shaped mandi-
bles in your flesh; but lately discovered that
all this Is only the A, b, G of their ferocty
One evening | found that countless multitude
Of red ants had collected about two trees close
to my tent and were making thorOughfare of
one of my ropes. l thought it best to discour-
age this, SO / got some kerosene oil, the best
antidote l know for insect pests of any kind,
and. dipping feather into it, began to anoint
the rope, thinking in my simplicity that they
would not like to cross the oil, and would be
obliged to find another road. There was per-
feet storm of indignation. They rushed to-
gether from both sides, and threw themselves
on the oiled feather in the spirit Meltus
Curtius. They died. of course but others came
on IN scores, painting for the same glorious
death, and had to give up my idea of dislodg-
ing them by kerosene.
always supposed that man was the only animal
which could endure the smell of that weed.
lighted cheroot and steadily blew the smoke
where they were the thlckest. Never in my life
have seen anything like the frenzy of passion
which followed the first few puffs. To be at
tackled by an enemy of which they could not
lay hold seemed to be really too much for
them. In their rage they lay hold of each
other, and as red ant never lets go, they were
soon linked together by head, legs and antenna
INTO one horrible, red, quivering mass. left
these and, going to another place, offered the
end OF my cheroot with about an inch of ash
on it. Several seized it instantly The heat
killed them, but others laid hold of their
charred limbs, and by their united strength
they positively wrenched of the ash, which re-
manned hanging from the tent rope. by their
jaws, while scores hurried from both sides,
with iendish fury, to help in worrying it.
then presented the hot end The foremost
ant offered battle without n moments hesita-
ton and persisted with fizz, but another and
another followed, and saw plainly that was
beaten again, for the cheroot was going out,
while their fury only burned the more fiercely.
retired, and, after taking counsel with the
captain Of my guard, made torch of straw and
patiently smoked them to death all along the
rope. Then attacked the root Of a tree where
they were thickest, ana left nothing but d
black waste. Half an hour later fresh myriads
were carrying of the charred remains of their
comrades. They took them up the tree toward
their nest. whether for food or burial rites
cannot say. 1t was now getting dark, so gave
up my enterprise, but before going to bed
brought out a lantern and found them calmly
passing up and down my tent ropes as before.
had done everything could short of burning
down my tent and they remained masters Of
the field