History of a Zoological Temperance Convention: Held in Central Africa in 1847

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N. Noyes, 1855 - Temperance - 168 pages

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Page 134 - On this occasion their antennse are their fingers: with these they pat the abdomen of the Aphis on each side alternately, moving them very briskly, a little drop of fluid immediately appears, which the Ant takes into its mouth. When it has thus milked one, it proceeds to another, and so on, till being satiated it returns to the nest.
Page 120 - ... are formed of six, eight, or sometimes ten, all hooked together and struggling pertinaciously for the mastery : the equilibrium remains unbroken, till a number of champions from the same nest arriving at once, compel them to let go their hold, and the single combats recommence. At the approach of night, each party gradually retreats to its own city : but before the following dawn the combat is renewed with redoubled fury, and occupies a greater extent of ground. These daily fights continue till,...
Page 134 - ... cleanliness in each individual fly, and indeed for the preservation of the whole family ; for pressing as they do upon one another, they would otherwise soon be glued together, and rendered incapable of stirring. " When the ants are at hand, watching the moment at which the aphides emit their fluid, they seize and suck it down immediately : this however is the least of their talents; for they absolutely possess the art of making the aphides yield it at their pleasure; or in other words of milking...
Page 119 - Thousands of champions, mounted on more elevated spots, engage in single combat, and seize each other with their powerful jaws ; a still greater number are engaged on both sides in taking prisoners, which make vain efforts to escape, conscious of the cruel fate which awaits them when arrived at the hostile formicary. The spot where the battle most rages is about two or three square feet in dimensions ; a penetrating odour exhales on all sides ; numbers of ants are here lying dead, covered with venom...
Page 119 - If their strength be equal, they remain immoveable till the arrival of a third gives one the advantage. Both, however, are often succoured at the same time, and the battle still continues undecided; others take part on each side, till chains are formed of six...
Page 26 - ... the stomach from wambling, and the heart from swelling ; — it keepeth the hands from shivering, the sinews from shrinking, the veins from crumbling, the bones from aching, and the marrow from soaking.
Page 63 - Several of our camels are drunk to-day: their eyes are heavy, and want animation; gait staggering, and every now and then, falling as a man in a state of intoxication.
Page 120 - ... and if by mistake one was attacked, it was immediately discovered by the assailant, and caresses succeeded to blows. Though all was fury and carnage in the space between the two nests, on the other side the paths were full of ants going to and fro on the ordinary business of the society, as in a time of peace; and the whole formicary exhibited an appearance of order and tranquillity, except that on the quarter leading to the field of battle crowds might always be seen, either marching to reinforce...
Page 85 - There is nothing portentous of danger to the commonwealth in this general awakening of the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the old and the young, — this
Page 26 - ... it keepeth and preserveth the head from whirling, the eyes from dazzling, the tongue from lisping, the mouth from snaffling, the teeth from chattering, and the throat from rattling ; it keepeth the...

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