The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-19
KILLED THE rAaANTuLA.
A Colony OF Rod Ants Attack aud Dis
patch One OF the Hugo Spiders

10
patch One OF the Hugo Spiders.
A hunter ono day encountered large
specimen of tho tarantula, which
abounds in Texas. He did not dare to
touch or go near tho deadly insect,
which was about five inches in length
and OF rather groenish hue; but he got
long stick, ono ond Of which he split,
and by n dexterous manipulation So
cured tho tarantula between tho prongs,
which, coming together, held it tight
enough to prevent it's escape, but not
enough to injure it. lilo repaired with
it to hill of largo rcd ants which ho
had passed. on his tramp short timo be-
3ore. In tho middle of tho hill no do
posted tho tarantula, releasing it from
its imprisonment 1t was n rather
chilly day, and but few ants were out Of
their holes. But these few gathered
around the stranger, looked at it closely
for a brief moment, and thon, ono by
one, hurriodly ontorcd the difforent
small holos within which wore their
domiciles. The tarantula meanwhile
was motionless, occasionally blinking
its small, sharp eyes, but not deigning
to glance upon the small insects.
But presently camo forth the ants in
a body. Although tho tale-bearers had
enterod the hill by different holes, tho
warriors all issued from the Same ono.
First came large ant. and then the
others so closely upon tho heels of zach
other that the limo looked like blood red
string Tho sido of tho tarantula was
about four inches from where tho ants
issued from tho cone, and thoy mado
fnr ,..ith
tino. Tho largo ono in the lead pounced
upon ono of the furry legs, and tho
others got thcir teeth in as near by as
possible. There seemod to be an almost
unending string of tho ants, and, in
minute and half, tho cntiro body Of
their victim was covered with Thorn.
After that the tarantula did not move n
limb scarcely. At first it attempted to
pull away tho leg attacked by the ants,
but finding it fastened it showed along
with tho discngagcd legs, moving per-
haps an inch and half; but tho re-
Ipainder of its body was soon covered
with tho insects, which devoted part of
their forco to holding tho victim in
place. Tho tarantula only killed threo
OF tho ants. Those throe ventured with
in tho roach of tho jaws Of the tarantula,
which closed its mouth with n snap,
ending their existence instanter.
In four minutes tho tarantula was
dead. There was not a sign of blood
anywhere on its body, though in many
places were evidences Of the fray. Nonr
tho head wero scars showing whore the
ants had bitten deepest. Shortly aftor
1T closed its eyes and allowed its head
to sag many of tho ants withdrew, but
when thore was convulsive jerk Of ono
leg the ants ran up again, and this
timo remained till every sign of ANNA
ton was gone.
Then tho ants removed tho corpse. 1t
was heavy body to move, but they &C.
complishcd it. On the rather fat top
OF the hill tho pull was hard and long,
but on tho incline it was castor Ar.
rivod at tho foot the ants deserted the
corpse and returned to their homes,
some entering their holos. others re-
Stunning tho work they had been intor-
rupted at whom tho tarantula camc
among them. = st. Louis Globe Demo-
GRAFT