Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1874 — Odd Ants. [ARTICLE]

Odd Ants.

Upward of a thousand different species of ants have been described by entomologists, and yet it is by no means supposed that the whole family have been enumerated. New speoies are from time to time turning up in different parts of the world, and, as they are all wonderfully intelligent, and addicted to the strangest habits, we may expect to be entertained with new and curious stories about the race as long as life shall last. Dr. Gideon Lincecum, of Long Point, Tex., has been cultivating the acquaintance of a species of sweet-scented ants which live in his vicinity. Each individual ftnt seems to be a vial or vase of precious perfumery, sweet as the attar of roses. Crush it between the fingers and it yields a fragrance of exquisite'quality. These ants are extremely scaree, but no doubt the day will come when they will be cultivated, as the Orientals cultivate gardens of roses, for the rare odors they distilL Imagine a bouquet of these sweet-scented ants impaled on separate pins and emitting delicate and delicious, aromas with every contortion. Scientists are trying to prove that the lower orders of animals do not ache from stabs and wound % and they tell us that insects

will tranquilly feed when transfixed with s bodkin; therefore; we might refresh the dainty sense of smell with a nosegay' of bleeding and quivering ants without suffering any twinges of conscience. But this treatment of the ants would be no worse than that which the various Species unscrupulously accord to each other. We arc indebted again to Dr. Lincecum for the details of a wholesale slaughter of one tribe by another, which occurred under his observation. A colony of the smallest species of black ants, which dwelt in his yard, discovered one day a quantity of sirup that had been spilled on the ground and immediately swarmed out and began carrying it to their magazine. The vessel in which they transported it was the little sack in the abdomen. But they had not long been engaged in the work before a larger spb'cies of black ants learned what they were began to rifle them on their way homeward. The big black butchers would seize the little fellows toiling along under their burdens, and, biting open their abdomen, draw ovlt the full sacks and swallow them. Then, casting aside the mutilated carcass, each would seize upon another and repeat the murderous operation. The bloody brigands greatly outnumbered their helpless victims, and, when the ruthless massacre was over, the peaceful, populous colony was entirely exterminated.— Chicago Trib une.