Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-07
TACKLlNG A TARANTUlA.
How a Colony of Rcd Ants Gave n Big
Spider It's Quietus.

How n Colony of Rcd Ants Gave n Big
Spider It's Quietus.
Frank Gillette tells OF a remarkable
fight he witnessed between large taran-
tula and q colony OF red ants, says n
Fort Worth Tex correspondent of the
st. Louis GiObe- Democrat. He has
just returned from Jack county, whore
in tho canyons and hills he had been
hunting. In the afternoon of one day
he encountered large specimen of the
tarantula which abounds In Texas. He
did not dare to touch or even go near
the deadly insect, which was about
five inches in length and Of rather
greenish hue but he got long
stick, one end OF which he split, and
by q dexterous manipulation secured
the tarantula between the prongs, which,
coming together, held it tight enough to
prevent its escape, bat not enough TO in
jure it. He repaired with it to a hill of
large red ants which he had passed on
his tramp short time before. In the
middle OF the hill he deposited the Ia
rantula, releasing it from its imprison-
ment. 1t was rather chilly day, and
but few ants were out of their holes
But these few gathered around the
stranger, looked at it for brief moment,
and then, one by one, hurriedly entered
the different small holes within which
were their domiciles. The tarantula
meanwhile was mOtionless, occasionally
blinking Its small, sharp eyes, but not
deigning to glance upon the small III
sects.
But presently came forth the ants in
body. Although the tale-bearers had
entered the hill by different holes, the
warriors all issued from the Same one
First came a large ant, and then the
others so closely upon the heels of each
other that the line looked like blood
red s. ring. The side Of the tarantula
was about four inches from where the
ants issued from the cone, and they
made straight for the enemy without
loss of time. The large one il the lead
pounced upon one of the furry
legs, and the others got their
teeth in as near by as possible.
There seemed TO be an almost unend-
ing string of the ants. and in minute
and half the. entire body of their VIC
tim was covered with them. After that
the .tarantula did not move q limb
scarcely. At first it attempted to pull
away the leg attacked by the ants, but
finding it fastened it showed along with
the disengaged legs, moving perhaps an
inch and half; but the remainder OF
its body was soon covered with the in
sects which devoted part of their force
- Ill ~, IN, MI
tarantula only killed three of the ants.
These three ventured within tho reach
of the Jaws of the tarantula, which closed
its mouth with snap, ending their ex-
istenee instantly.
In four minutes the tarantula was
dead. There was not sign OF blood
anywhere on its body, though IN many
places were evidences of the fray. Near
the head were scars showing where the
ants had bitten deepest. Shortly after
il closed its eyes and allowed its head to
sag many of the ants withdrew, but
when there was convulsive jerk of ono
leg the ants ran up again and this time
remained till every sign Of animation
was gone.
Then the ants removed the corpse. 1t
was heavy body to move, but they ac-
complished it. On the rather flat top OF
the hill the pull was hard and long, but
on the decline it was easier. Arrived at
the foot the ants deserted the corpse and
returned to their homes, some entering
the holes, others resuming the work they
had been interrupted at when the
tarantula came among them.