Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1875 — Harvesting Ants. [ARTICLE]

Harvesting Ants.

The curious provision of nature, or (if Darwin will have his way) the curious pass to wifich the developmental forces will take up the animal kingdom, in the protection of species, may hq-seen in the history of the “ Harvesting Ante” of Europe. The males and females have wings; the workers (neuters) have none. Lizards frequently attack the winged ants, but keep clear of the workers, the latter protecting (he winged ones by surrounding them so tlud the lizards only catch an occasional straggler outside the lines. Certain large beetles, known as tigerbeetles, often attack the workers, hut only when they can pounce upon a straggler, and then only when they can seize him just behind the neck. If they get hold of him here he is at their mercy:,but if they fail in this they let go and rpn.vfor if the ant once grasps the legs of the beetle it never lets go, not even after death. This genera of ants are also supplied with a proportion of “ soldiers” —ants that, while belonging to the class of workers, have large heads and huge jaws and very small bodies. They are useful only in fighting dangerous enemies. —We have a child in this office who is five years old, weighing thitfy-one pounds, and who can set a half column of type a day. This is the youngest compositor on record. Those who doubt this assertion can be satisfied by giving this office a call, and we will make “ Ned’’ put up the type in good style.— Coeingtvn (6a.) Enterprise. T' —The St. Louisans have so fooled the Chinese laundrymen of that place, in the matter of “ trust me, and I will pay thee hereafter,” that the poor heathen have been compelled to organize a “ Washee Union,” of which the constitution and bylaws are as follows; “No tickce.”