Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-06
ANIMAL INSTINCT.
CASES APPROACHING HUMAN
INTELLIG ENCE.
Effect of Training on the Monkey
Ants That Appear TO Ihink--A
Bird That Builds Houses
and Makes Gardens.

time immemorial, the result being that
our humble friends are enabled to 90
through variety of performances. In
olden times animals were trained as theY
are to-day. Two hundred years ago an
educated monkey was exhibited in Lon
don. which, it was claimed, did every
thing but write and talk. 1t suolEsd'
and drank like man, and did much of
the work that man could. The
chimpanzee at Central Park sits up to
the table, tucks a napkin under her chin
and eats soup with a spoon.
In Africa a wealthy native wishing to
astonish an Englishman gave party, at
which the lights or torches were held by
balloons that sat upon P bench. All
went we'll until one Of the torch-bearers
fell asleep and allowed the burning brand
to fall upon a comrade, whereupon an
odor of singed hair and yells arose, and
in a moment the entire force were be-
laboring each other with the torches.
If was asked to point out the most
intelligent animal-judging from the
human standpoint think should Sc
lect the ant. 1t is true that these littl
creatures have not been educated or sent
to school, and we do not know what
they would do under the influence of
education, but we do know that in their
natural state in their methods of life
they exhibit a remarkable resemblance to
man. Ants 90 to war in organized
bodies, and they have a sign language
beyond any doubt. That their memory
is remarkable is shown by the fact that
they remember individuals of their own
kind for over a year. Thus, an ant was
taken from nest and kept for number
of months, then taken back and with a
stranger ant dropped in among the old
colony. The stranger was Immediately
killed, while the old one that had been
away was caressed by the anteunG of its
friends.
Those who have made a study of ants
must be satisfied that they have sign
language, and l believe it to consist in
tapping each other with their antenne.
Thus l placed dead beetle near nest; {;
soon 4 returning ant found it,eXamined it
well, and started to the nest When
near it it met a friend, and the two
stood for a moment tapping each other
with their antenne, when the new conner
turned and went directly for the beetle ;
the first ant meeting another ant and re-
peating the performance, the latter also
travelled for the beetle. After tasting
the new found game the two ants re-
turned to the nest, and almost immedi-
ately there was evidence Of unusual
activity. The ants had communicated
the news to their comrades, and the re-
suit was a line of ants to the beetle III a
very few moments.
In South America ants are known to
travel long distances in search Of food,
and a branch of the Parana River was
tunneled by them-a fact shown by
forcing smoke through. These ants
were not deferred by anything, and like
human army moved on in solid phalanx.
Short streams they crossed by bridging
with their own bodies. This was ac-
complished by lowering themselves from
branches, ants crawling down, and cling
ing to each other, until gradually the
line was several yards in length and the
wind blew it to the opposite limb, over
which the rest Of the army passed.
The ants show remarkable intelligence,
if we take ourselves as a standard. a
South American species lines its tunnels
with certain bark which it knows will
produce a certain fuugOid growth neces-
sary as food for the young. Others are
known to indulge in agriculture, and are
supposed by some to carry seeds to GER
tain places and plant them, in orler to
feed upon them at the harvest. The agri-
cultural ants of Texas have open oI
cleared places for some little understood
purpose, from which paths radiate. Other
ants keep certain insects as pets or slaves,
and Others again for the odor they emit
while still Others are regularly in the
dairy business, keeping the aphidae as
prisoners and forcing them to give uT
their milk or honey. The ants are SC
solicitous that they build corrals for them,
and so insure a new crop every year.
In the care of their young, the erection
of homes and all the methods of life they
exhibit wonderful intelligence. In GER
tain Mexican ants, and they are found in
Colorado also, certain members of the
family officiate as bottles. The rest oil
the ants go to them and deliver up theil
supply of honey or food, and the living
1 bottles receive it, their abdomens grad
ually swelling until as large as peas.
These strange receptlcles are hung upon
the wall Of a special cell, or room, where
they cling by the fevt, and during the
time the food supply is short, or in tho
winter, they provide the food for the en-
tire family, giving it up as desired. Such
remarkable economic measure wa
probably never heard of before among
any animals, and might well be consid-
cred ''yarn" was it not we'll authenti
Gated.