Nature Red Ants Athirst for Blood.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2012, 30 May 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Nature Red Ants Athirst for Blood.

Ak a number of paraona were standing in front ol tha City Hall, a largo nuoibor of ants wera nosicad running about on the steps and roll-id, con3lantly fttigrnentad by numbers from unknown quarters. Examination revea'ei the fact th.it the ants were winged and weie tumbling from the air. Further invests gation showed that the anta were of two speoies, and that a battle, begun in the air, w*g raging on the ground. One of the species of the warring insectB was large and red, with winga the size of a house fly ; tho other was a small red ant, with a black head find small wings. They wore in superior numbers and attacked their enemies by twos, fours and scores. Several bails of the ferocious w&rriora when separated showed as many as thirty small ants on one larger one. Here and there could be seen single combats, the small ants in every case victorious. Those that were clinched in the air remain od clinched on the ground until one or the other waa vauquiahed and dead. But as a general thing they fell to the ground and at once pre pared for battle. Each aide was under leadera, who massed their force 3 and marched them with military preoision upon the foe. Skirmish lines were thrown out. The lines advanced again and then the battle became general. The rule 3 of civilized warf«o wero observed for a while, but before the fight was over it waa a go-aa-you-pleaae affair. The small ants were in the majority, but their opponents were gianta oompared with them, and they crushed the pigmies in their strong mandibles as an alligator would a gnat. For at least half an hour the battle raged. The ground was thick with -the dead and the dying, the latter being dispatched wherever found. At last the giants were routed. They fleg ignominioualy, pursued by the pigmies, who slaughtered them by scores, while in full retreat, some dying, others running to escape with their lives. — Denver Neu ?.