The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-01-15
vAhoUIsHEo ~ ANTS.
A Huge farantals IntrudeS 0vereo0e
By the Forcs % Nuabsrs.

A Huge farantala Intruder overes0e
By the Fores % Nunbsrs.
Frank Gillette tells Of q remarkable fight
BE- witnessed between q large tarantuls
asd colony Of rcd ants. He had Just re-
turned from Jack county. where, In the
canyons and hills, he bad been hunting. In
the afternoon Of one day be encountered 9
large specimen Of the tarantula which
sbounds In TexAs He did not dare d
touch or even 20 near the deadly Insect
which was about ave inches In length and
Of rather grcenish hue, but he got long
stick, one end Of which be split, and By {
dextsrous manipulation secured the tarap-
tuls between the prongs. which coming TO
gether held Il tight enough 70 prevent Ia
escape, but not enough 70 iniure H.
He repaired with Il 10 hill Of large red
ants which be had passed on his tramp 9
short time before In the middle Of thu
hill he Deposited the tarantula. releasine II
from its imprisonment 10 vs. Q rathes
chilly day, and but few ants were out Of
their holes. But these few gathered sround
the stranger, looked at Il closely for o brief
moment, and then one BY one hurriedly
entered the different small holes within
which were their domicilsaL TIE taran-
tula meanwhile was motionless. occasion
ally blinking Ii small, sharp eyes, but not
deigning 10 glance upon the small Insects.
But presently came forth the ants In &
body. Although the talebesrsFs had e.
tered the hill By different kolss, the war.
riors all issued from the same one. First
came . large snt. and then the others %
closely upon the heels Of each other that
the line looked like . blood red string.
The side Of the tarantuia VS. about four
inches from where the ants Issued from
the cone, and they made stralght for the
enemy without los Of time. The large
one In the lead pounced upon one u the
furry legs, and the Others got their testh
In a. near BY - possible.
There seemed 20 be au almost unsndine
string Of the ants, and In . minute and Q
half the entire body Of their victim VS.
covered with them After that the tarsn-
tuls did not move q limb scarcely. AZ hrsi
Il attempted 10 pail away the lss attacked
By the ants, but tindingit fastened e showed
along with the dlsengaged les, moving pr
baps an Inch and hall, but the semaindcr
Of ~ body was soon covered with ths In
sects, which devoted part q their lorcs 10
holding the victim In place. The tafantula
only killed three Of the anita Thess three
ventured within reach Of the jaws Of ths
tarantula, which closed lts mouth VITA Q
snap, ending their exisssncs Instantly.
In four minutes The tarantula wns dad
There was not o sign Of blood snywhsrs %
its body, Though IN many places wess svi-
dences Of tie frsy. Near the hssd were
scsFs showing where ths anita I'D bittsn
dsepest. ShSrtly aftsr q closed Ia oJss
and allowed ID bod 10 80 nary q shs
ants Withdrew, but whsn thaEs - Q CO..
vulsive terk u one leg IL aats rna up
again, and this Tina rsmsinsa an syeFY
sign of animation ves gone.
Then the srts removed The corpsa n
wns heavy body % move. but thsy accom-
plishsd h. On The aAt top u ths I'm
the pull was rather hard and lcae, bat
On The incline it ~ eaHisF. Arrived =
the fcot, The ants dsssreed tie eoEpss and
rsturred 10 thsir homes, soma catering IL
holss, otke-s rssuming The Wogk thsy I'D
been interrapted - when ths tszantala
came among them-rsxas Cor. g. Loub
Globe Dec,oeszt.