AN ANT FUNERAL | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 11, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 10.

AN ANT FUNERAL.

MRS. HUTTON gives this account of some ants which she saw in Sydney. Having killed a number of soldier-ants, she returned in half an hour to the spot where she had left their dead bodies, and in reference to what she then observed she says:—

“I saw a large number of ants surrounding the dead ones. I determined to watch their proceedings closely. I followed four or five that started off from the rest toward a hillock a short distance off, in which was an ants’ nest. This they entered, and in about five minutes they reappeared, followed by others. All fell into rank, walked regularly and slowly two by two, until they arrived at the spot where lay the dead bodies of the soldier-ants. In a few minutes two of the ants advanced and took up the dead body of one of their comrades, then two others, and so on until all were ready to march. First walked two ants bearing a body, then two without a burden, then two others with another dead ant, and so on until the line extended to about forty pairs; and the procession now moved slowly onward, followed by an irregular body of about two hundred ants. Occasionally the two laden ants stopped, and, laying down the dead ant, it was taken up by the two walking unburdened behind them; and thus, by occasionally relieving each other, they arrived at a sandy spot near the sea. The body of ants now commenced digging with their jaws a number of holes in the ground, into each of which a dead ant was laid, where they now labored on until they had filled up the ants’ graves. This did not quite finish the remarkable circumstances attending this funeral of the ants. Some six or seven of the ants had attempted to run off without performing their share of the task of digging. These were caught and brought back, when they were at once attacked by the body of the ants and killed upon the spot. A single grave was quickly dug, and they were all dropped into it.”—Evangelist.