A Fierce Contest

Desirous of ascertaining the natura] f ood of the scorpion, says a writer in the Lewiston Journal, I inelosed one, which measnred three-quarters of an inch from the head to the insertion oi the tail, in a wide-mouthed phial, together with one of those large spiders se common in the West Indies, and inelosed K with a cork perforated with a quill for the admission of air. The insects seemed carefully to avoid each óther, retiring to opposite ends of the bottle, which was placed horizontally. By giving it a gradual inelination the eeorpion was forced into contact with the spider, when a sharp encountej took place. The latter received repeated stings from his venomous adversary apparently without the least injury, and with his web soon lashed the scorpion'a tail to his back, subsequently securing his legs and claws with the same material. In this state I left them some time in order to oberve what effect would be prosiriéed on th'espider by the wounds he had Mteived. On my return, however, I wás disappointed, the ants having eaed and destroyed them both. In thé West Indies I have daily witncfised crowds of these little inseets destroyin1. the spider or cockroach. As soort a&lie is dispatched they carry him to theuf; nest. I have frequently seen them (ií&g their prey perpendieularly up thedall, although the weight would overeóme their united efcort, and f all to the grotmd perhaps twenty times in successlan, yet by unremitting perseveranee ana the aid of reinforcements they always 'úceeeded. A struggle of this descrijMBñ 'once amused the offioers ol his H3pwS. Retribution for near halí an houiö-A large oentipede entered the gun ro3B suiTounded by a concourse oí ants. e deck for four or five íeet roundjjfc covered with them; his body and liaJBs were encrusted witli his liliputiarigfcmies, and although thousands were ijRpoyed by his esertions to escape, ttíjfr ultimately carried him in triumpMb their dwellirig. From these circumfcices it would appear that the ants armt considerable check to the increase oi these venomous reptiles, so troublífofé to the torrid zone; their indnstry.j.perseverance, courage and numerieal ïorce seem to strengthen the conjecture; in that case they simply remunerjite us for their own depredations.