Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-10-24

When the column of ants had arrived to within twenty feet of the stump, re- turned to it, eager to see the outcome of such extensive preparations. l found the ants arranged, over the face of the stump and on the ground about the op- enings to their nest, in ring nearly six inches wide, and as red as the reddest. On the ground, stationed two inches from the outside of the belt, few larger and apparently old ants were continually running out a short ways and back again, but always keeping on their return about the same distance from the belt. There were others run ming over the stump on the outside of the circle, and on the top they faced the direction from which the black ants were coming.
 The black ants continued to move for ward till they reached the stump, where they formed a mass from two to three feet wide in a curving line on the east and south of it. Many began running over the stump on the outside of the belt of red ants, apparently looking for some place to enter the stump from the rear of the line. On the near approach of a black ant, a struggle was immediately begun with one of the red ants that stood guard on the outside of the belt. In an instant the two became a fighting mass as big as butternut by contestants added from both sides. In the thickest of the battle there were six or more of these punches engaged at once, in which at times the red ants seemed to predom- mate, and at times the black. The main bodies of ants, both black and red, took no part in the fight, remaining quiet fhrnnrhnnf hn unf fvn order on the stump, when the sinking sun warned me that it was time to leave
 The black ants were, however, now quietly dissolving their numbers, return ing by the way they came, leaving their dead on the field. On examination, these all appeared to have lost their legs on one side only, such disabling of his an | tagonist being apparently the red ants method of fighting, The bodies were mere empty shells, and with innumerable legs strewed the ground. The bodies of the few red ants killed were also empty shells. There appeared to be little reason for the retreat of the black ants, who were individually much larger than the red, and outnumbered them four to one. l watched the organizing and warning of these ants all the after
 
 than half that time, so fascinating had been the occupation.
 Being country youth, working from sun to sun, had no opportunity to re- visit the field until the following Sun day. Then hastened to the nest of the black ants. I found it all torn up, rooted out and trampled down. But it had plainly been an oval hillock, about foot high and about two by four feet | in diameter. It had been built in Q sandy spot on the southern slope of the field, with the entrances to the south. Before the entrances, for a space of eight or ten inches out, the ground was entirely clear of any growth, and was as clean and flat as a fagstone. picked up pieces of the roofing that were nearly two inches thick. It was composed of short bits of grass and dirt, the top overlaid with short pieces of grass, with the blades all pointing toward the top of the roof. The under side of the roof was glossed over with hard gumlike substance. The entrances were about an inch and quarter in diameter, and smooth with the same substance. A few small ants were trying to rebuild the nest, and had already repaired the mound to considerable extent.
 A neighbor, noting my curiosity, told me that bull, put into the pasture, had torn the nest to pieces with his horns and paved the pieces about; that the ants in return had led him a dance over the field. The pawings and bellowings and mad antics that followed showed that the black ant knew how to fight his larger foe, though no match for the lit tie red one. I went over to the stump, some twelve or fifteen rods away The red ants were gone. The toughest treat ment failed to call forth one from the stump. Not a trace of them was on the ground about.
 Whether they had emigrated to a more peaceful section, or had attacked the black and been destroyed; whether the organized warfare had witnessed was simply to avenge the wrongs of one of their number, or the fight that first attracted my attention was but a skir- mish of scouting parties, and it had been the intention of the black ants to steal the larv@ of the red ants, as had known honey-bees to steal the larvse ot their enemies-all remained amystery. I-E M Salt iu Christian ak worl>