The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1920-09-03
A SINGULAR COMBAT

Frank Gillette, of Fort Worth, Texas tells
OF a remarkable fight he witnessed between a
large tarantula and colony of red ants. He
had just returned from Jack County, where in
the canyons and hills, he had been hunting
In the afternoon of one day he encountered
a large specimen of the tarantula. He did not
dare to touch or even go near the deadly insect,
which was about five inches in length and of
rather greenish hue; but he got long stick,
one end of which he split, and, by a dexterous
manipulation, secured the tarantula between
the prongs, which, coming together, held it
tight enough to prevent its escape, but not
enough TO njure 1t.
He repaired with il to a hill Of large red ants,
which he had passed on his tramp a short time
before In the middle of the hill he deposited
the tarantula, releasing it from its imprison-
ment.
1t was rather a 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 then, one by one hurriedly
entered the different small holes within which
were their domiciles. The tarantula meanwhile
was motionless. occasionally blinking its small,
sharp eyes, but not designing to glance upon
the small insects.
But presently came forth the ants in a body
Although the tale-bearers had entered the hill
by different holes the warriors all issued from
the same one. First came large ant, and
then the others so closely upon the heels of
each other that the line looked like blood-red
string.
The side of the tarantula was about four
inches from where the ants issued from the
cone, and they made straight for the enemy
without loss Of time
The large one in the lead bounced upon one
Of the furry legs, and the others got their
teeth in as near as possible. There seemed to
be an almost unendng string OF the ants and in
minute and a half The entire body Of their
victim was covered with them.
After that the tarantula did not move a limb
scarcely At first it attempted to pull away
the leg attacked by the ants, but finding it
fastened, it showed along with the disengaged
legs moving perhaps an inch and half; but
the remainder of its body was soon covered
with the insects, which devoted part of their
force to holding the victim in place.
The tarantula only killed three of the ants
These three ventured within reach of the jaws
Of the tarantua, which closed its mouth with a
snap ending their existence instantly.
In four minuts the tarantula was dead There
was not an sign of blood anywhere on its body,
though in many places were evidences of the
fray.
Near the head were scars showing where the
ants had bitten deepest. Shortly after it closed
its eyes and allowed its head to sag, many of
the ants withdrew but when there was a con-
vulsive jerk of one leg. the ants ran up again,
and this time remained till every sign of ANNA
ton was gone.
Then the ants removed the corpse. 1t was
heavy body to move but they accomplished it.
On the rather fiat top Of the hill the pull was
hard and long, but on the incline it was easier.
Arrived at the foot, the ants deserted the
corpse and returned TO their homes, some enter
ing the holes, others resuming the work they
had been interrupted at when the tarantula
came among them