Sharp County record., 1890-10-09
SPORTS OF INSECTS.
How Ants Enjoy Themselves In Harmless
Amusements and Tricks.

How Ants Enjoy Themselves In Harmless
Amusements and Tricks.
1t Is not generally known that some
OF the smallest insects are discovered tC
enjoy themselves in sports and amuse
ments after their ordinary tolls, or sat
iating themselves with food, just as reg
ularly as is the case with many human
beings. They run races, wrestle with
each other, and, out of fun, carry each
other on their backs, much in the same
manner as boys. These pleasing char
acteristics of insects are particularly
observable among ants, which are re-
markable for their sagacity. Bonnet, a
French author says he observed a small
OF their industry, employed themselves
in carrying each other on their backs,
the rider holding with his mandibles
the neck of his bearer, and embracing it
closely with his legs.
Gould, another writer on ants, men
tions that he has often witnessed these
exercises, and says that in all cases, af-
ter being carried a certain length, the
ant was let go in friendly manner and
received no personal injury. This
amusement is often repeated, especially
Among the hill ants, who are very fond
of this sportive exercise. 1t is among
the same species that Huber observed
similar proceedings, which he has de-
scribed with his usual minuteness.
81 approached" he says, zone day. to
the formicary of woodlands, exposed to
the sun, and sheltered from the north
The ants were hoaped upon one another
in great numbers and appeared to en-
JOY the temperature of tho surface Of
the nest. None of them wero at work;
and the immense multitude of insects
presented tho appearance of liquid in
q state of ebulltion, upon which the
eye could scarcely be fixed without diff
flculty; but when examined the con-
duct of each ant, saw them approach
one another, moving their antenn9 with
astonishing rapidity, while they patted,
with slight movement, the checks of
other ants. After these preliminary
gestures, which resembled caressing,
they were observed to raise themselves
upright on their hind-lcgs by pairs,
struggle together, seize each other by n
mandible foot or antenn@, and then i'm
mediately relax their hold to commence
the attack. They fastened upon each
others shoulders, embraced and over
threw each other, then raised them
selves by turns, taking their revenge
without producing any serious mischief.
''They did not squirt out their venom
as in their combats nor retain their OPP
ponents with that obstinacy which we
observe in thoir real quarrels. Tn.
presently abandoned those which they
had first seized, and endeavored TO catch
others. have seen some WHO were so
eagor in these exercises that they pur
sued several workers in succession, and
struggled with them for few moments,
the skirmish only terminating when the
least animated having overthrown his
antagonist, succeeded in escaping and
hiding in one of the galleries In one
place, two ants appeared to be gambol-
ing about stalk of grass; turning al
ternately to avoid or seize each other,
which brought to my recollection the
sport and pastimo of young dogs when
they rise on their hind-legs, attempting
to bite, overthrow and seize each other,
without once closing their teeth. TO
witness these facts, it is necessary to
approach the ant-hills with much eau
tion, that tho ants should have no idea
OF your presence; If they had they
would cease at the moment their play
or occupations, would put themselves in
aposture of defense, curve up their tails
and eject their venom, IN, Y, Ledger