Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-09
vANQUIsHED By ANTS.
A Huge Tarantula Intruder over
come by Force OF Numbers.

IFrom the lobe-Democrat.1
Fort WORTH, Tex, Nov. 23.-F rank
Gillette tells of a remarkable fight he wit
messed between a large tarantula and a
colony of red ants. He had just returned
from Jack county, where, in the caaons
and hills, he had been hunting. In the
afternoon of one day he encountered a
large specimen of the tarantula, which
abound in Texas He did not care to
touch or even go near the deadly insect,
which was about five inches in length and
of a rather greenish hue; but he got q
long stick, one end of which he split, and
by a dexterous manipulation secured the
tarantula between the prongs, which, com
ing together, held il tight enough to pre-
vent its escape, but not enough to injure
it.
He repaired with it to hill of large red
| ants which he had passed on his tramp q
short time before. In the middle of the
hill he deposited the tarantula, releasing
| it from its Imprisonment. 1t was rather
| chilly day, and but few ants were ont of
their holes. But these few gathered
| around the stranger, looked at it closely
| for n brief moment, and then one by one
| hurriedly entered the different small holes
| within which We're their domiciles. Tbs
| tarantula meanwhile was motionless, occa'
| sionally blinking its small, sharp eyes, but
| not deigning to glance upon the small in
sects.
But presently came forth the ants in /.
| body Although the tale bearers had en-
tered the hill by different holes, the war
| riors all issued from the same one. Firs
came a large ant, and then the others 81
n = - A. I. y Il II -
i the line looked like a blood-red string
The side of the tarantula was about fou
| inches from where the ants issued from
the cone, and they made straight for tn
| enemy without loss of time. The larg
one in the lead pounced upon one of tn
furry legs, and the others got their teetl
in as near by as possible. There SCENE
to be an almost unending string of tn
ants, and, in a minute and half, the er
tire body of their victim was covered wit
them. After that the tarantula did nc
move a limb scarcely. At first il attempt
ed to pull away the leg attacked by tn
ants, but finding it fastened it shove
along with the disengaged legs, mOyin
perhaps an inch and a half; but the re
mainder of its body was soon coyere
with the insects, which devoted part c
their force to holding the victim in plac,
L Inc IaIauluAs. OAAf A4AAcA AAAcc Va t4c a@AS
These three ventured within reach of th
jaws of the tarantula, which closed il
mouth with a snap, ending their existenc
instantly.
In four minutes the tarantula was deat
There was not sign of blood anywheI
on its body, though in many places wei
evidences of the fray. Near the hes
. were scars showing where the ants ha
bitten deepest. Shortly after it closed i
eyes and allowed its head to sag many I
the ants withdrew, but when there was
convulsive jerk of one leg the ants ran .
again, and this time remained till ever
, sign of animation was gone.
Then the ants removed the corpse.
was heavy body to move, but they a
, complished it. On the rather fiat top
! the hill the pull was hard and long, b
, on the incline it was easier. Arrived
i the foot, the ants deserted the corpse an
|, returned to their homes, some enteril
! the holes, others resuming the work tn
had been interrupted at when the tarant
la came among them.