1.884.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 63 



Mr. Russell placed an odd advantage, which he had often 

 observed to be of some importance. When a grain-farm is to be 

 opened, and the prairie sod " broken," a large number of men 

 will be employed to manage the plows. These laborers are provided 

 with barracks or a " camp outfit," and by reason both of pei'sonal 

 uncleanliness, and the abundance of certain objectionable insects 

 in the prairie grass, soon become infested with parasites. Flannel 

 clothes and blankets are populous by the middle of June. The 

 manner in which the ants are turned in as scavengers may be 

 illustrated by one instance recited. 



" One of my camp cooks," said Mr. Russell, " came one day to 

 borrow a horse. ' What for?' I asked. ' I want to go out on the 

 prairie,' was the answer. ' Number Seven (the name of the camp) 

 is in a pretty lively condition ; and, to tell the truth, m3^ clothes 

 ai-e full of lice, and I want to go out to the ant-hills and get rid 

 of them.' 



" I gave the man the horse ; off he drove, stripped piece by 

 piece, and spread his duds and wraps upon the hills. In a few 

 moments they were fairly covered with ants who thoroughly 

 explored and cleaned every fibre, removing both insects and eggs. 

 The cook came back happj'' and clean. That was a constant 

 custom then (1880), and is continued by the camp people to this 

 day. The ' cleaning up ' takes the greater part of a day." 



The Dakotans have thus only discovered a formicarian habit 

 which the Indians of the plains, and old pioneers and campers, 

 utilized many years ago. 



Enemies and Destructive Agents. — In the " breaking season," 

 many of the ant-hills are torn up by the plows. At such times 

 flocks of blackbirds, both black and yellow-winged species, follow 

 in the furrows, and feed upon the ants. There seems to be no 

 end to the capacit}^ of these birds for this sort of food. The 

 tender larvae, exposed by the plowshare, are probably also 

 attractive morsels, but Mr. Russell could not say as to that; to 

 him the birds simply seemed to be picking up ants. 



In this connection a fact was related which may well excite 

 surprise. The prairie-fires often completel}^ destroy" the hills, burn 

 them quite up, and penetrate far enough beneath the surface to 

 leave a hole that would contain a bushel-basket ! This statement, 

 made early in the conversation and while I supposed that I was 



