The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-03

inch or more Of the web, which trailed
from it's hind legs.
The ant was now like bear in trap
whose faetenings it had broken, but from
which 1t must escape or be lost. The en-
numbered insect pulled itself along by IT'S
front legs its hind legs being helpless,
handicapped. as they were by the piece
of web. Sticking out from the edge of the
crack which the black ant had crossed,
so much to its discontinue and peEil, Sas
a splinter The free end of the splinter
was raised about an eighth of an lach
above the board. The ant dragged itself
as far as the splinter and stopped. 1t
seemed suddenly to become greatly inter
ested in the silver. 1t put it's nose against
it, and stood as if in deep thought. By
and by il reused itself, and going around
the upper end of the splinter, went INTO
the crack, dragged itself along the edge
of the board. came up again on the sur
face below where the splinter jutted out,
and then came back to the upper end CT
it again.
THE ant repeated this trip and by this
means made a hitch around the splinter
with the trailing web. This done, the ant
came slowly up the board, pulling stead
lily, until il drew its legs gradually free
from the web and left it fluttering on the
splinter like a tiny streamer StroKnS
its hind legs against each other until 1t
had got them in good shape again, it start
ed al a terrific pace up along the edge CT
the fateful crack. 1t had travelled half
the width of the porch when it stopped
as if suddenly stricken dead, and squatted
close against fthe board. Five or SIX
inches ahead and an inch or so from the
crack sat a large blue fly. 1t was turned
with it's head partially toward the 3nt.
The ant coveted the fly. How was 1t to
get the insect? l sat still and pondered.
l,,,e. mr. Of n
ant sat there. The fly remained notion
less. Then the ant turned and rctraced IT'S
Steps lelsurely and TO al loutside appear
ances almlessly, along the crack. 1t fol-
lowed its back track, in open sight, until
it had placed two feet at least OF distance
between itself and the fly. Then 1t Went
over to the edge of the board and disap-
peared into the crack. It was out of sight
of the fly, bat from where I sat I could
see the ant and have an opportunity 10
consider its way.
"The instant the ant was hidden from
the fly in the crack it turned and rushed
back along the inner edge of the board,
keeping below the top of it. 1t had calcu-
latedthe distance with wonderful precis-
ion, for il stopped I'm the crack directly OPP
poste where the fly still sat, the fly mean
while, having slightly changed its position.
Pausing a moment the ant Crept cautious
ly toward the top of the crack Warily
it pushed just enough of its head above the
edge to enable 1t to see the fly, which sat
with its head now turned enough in that
direction to make II useles sfor the ant to
try to steal upon 1t. For two minutes at
least the ant chung TO the edge of the
board watching the fly and waiting for ii
to change TO a position more favorable.
Then the fly, either unaware of the pres
ence of its foe, or foolish in over-confi-
dence began to walk slowly around, and
soon its back was turned to the cunning
ant At that instant the ant came out
of its ambush with a rush. and in a
twinkllng had its jaws fastened at the base
of one of the flys wings, which il nipped
off instantly The fly huttered about in its
crippled state, but the ant quickly nipped
OFF the other wing. Then seizing its plump
prey it started away with it easily as it
had started with its vanqushed red ant,
taking it down off the piazza to the ground
and so away to its nest 1t had had an eX-
citing, adventurous and successful hunt"