The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-11-13
UGLY DRIVER ANTS
All Living Creatures Fly Before
These African Te,fors.
THEY BUILD LIVING BRIDGES.

and Ferocious Insects Want TO Gross
River a Suspension Tube Of Their
Own Bodies Provides the Way.
Why should driver ants cross rivers:
The ants of, our own woods have NO
such desire; they are busy little people.
too much engaged iD the practical task
Of tinuipp and storing food TO have any
yaGaries of this sort. They are con-
tented and hurmless IL not disturbed
or annoyed. An angry ant Is to be
avoli.d. and an angry swarm can
make Its displeasure felt In n very un-
pleasant way, us every one knows who
hns carelessly broken into nest. But
II left alone they are peaceful little
workmen. ,nbsorbed in their own
affairs.
The great driver Or Bashikoney ant
however. has nothing peaceable in his
composition. He IL. nothing II not ag-
gresslye and spiteful: neither Is he con.
tented. In the great forests - Africa
these insects multiply to an alarming
extent. They swarm in thousands.
| any time. during the season Of miEr,.
ton they nre Il terror to the whole
district Al. which they live.
Myrinds of these insects are seized
with Il restless desire io- cliilIse. Obey
ing some mysterious Instinct ~ follow.
ing the commands OF their queen. they
tisef out upon their travels. and woe
betide the man or beast that cruises
their path. In q moment the hupless
creature Is covered with ants. and In
un Incredibly short space Of time moth
Ing tx left but bare bones.
The driver mt Is 80 called hccnuse
1t drives awny all living creatures
When this most terrible host is on the
march men and animals. great AMI
small. take flight. Lions and tigers
may be seen rushing along side by
side with the tiinid gazelle. All are
too much frightened to dream Of at
tuckinE or Avoiding ench other. For
once In their lives they are united In
their terror OF the common enemy.
Size ard strength are Of no avail. and
rhinOceros or an elephant 10 as much
terrified and Is In as much danger Ms
Il rabbit.
When the vast army Of nnts arrive
on the bank or river halt Is cali
ed. They hare no idea OF turning
back. hut to cross chat river they must
hnve a bridge, md the making Of this
bridge takes time. aud probably the
engineers o. the army have TO hustle
m tn the front.
The making Of an mt bridge Is one
nf the most wonderful things In the
world. The ants, swarm ON tree.
choosing one which overhangs the riv-
er. Upon the bough which reaches
fnrthest over the stream they mass
themselves and begin to form a thick
rope of their own bodies This they
do by means OF holding on tirmiy with
their hind legs. while With. the front
pair of legs they grasl the bodies OF
other ants. Constantly fresh ants
range themselves In front. ena SO the
rope grows and grows until at last Il
touches the water.
/ BY and by the floating chain is car
ried by the current toward the other
side. where probably grass aid great
reetiS spring out OF the. water. Tbe
foremost ants seize upon the first OBJ.
I3Iect they touch. md from ono slender
foothoid to another they elirab until
Mt last they reach land, Tho, nearest
tree In. quiciIy climbed. the foremost
pairs of legs doing oil the work. ana
very aoon the living rope is swinging
htsh above tho river. ,Ehe bridge Is
snntlc. and quickly the army crosses the
stream. 50 & 3 4
Da ofaiilu. In bis African travels.
had an opportunity OF observing one Of
these bridges. aud he declares that It
is made. with q h6lloy center. the
living bodies os the nnts forming the
xaia;sof a anr through which the
inain body Q, ls.trayel s,lfely oyer
the water. when the last mt has
crossed nnd the bridge Is no longer
needed. the ants in tho rear release
their hold Rnd the rope or tunnel drops
| Int the river. The ants do nor like
water. but they are. soon. released from
this position. for the vanguard ara, 5tisa
iiersing as fast gs they. Gun. AND the
self sacrihs:ing ants who begun the
Egreat chain nre dGickiy upon dry land.
lt isian very strange ana very. Yont
dsrfuI. Why 10 fhhy travel ut nil2
By what Direction ana By what iafFs
do they net. ard how did thes learn 10
make btidges Our aaiuralists haze
Iearped much DC fiiiets why's and siieifl
lid5inss. but t.sess questions they csanet
lsaiiswer they nre .pnrt OF the uiystefs'
| gE life nnd Nature o9 wiiicf, the svisest
knows tile. ~, Cutter IN london FaH.
fsfss fTcyart3ss 3sts q q =,