Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/238

ANTACID 188 ANT EATER grain, and store it up in their nests for use when required. Some species have sting's as weapons, others only their powerful mandibles, or an acrid and pungent fluid (formic acid) which they can emit. The name ant is also given to the neuropterous insects otherwise called i termites. ANTACID, an alkali, or any remedy for acidity in the stomach. The prin- cipal antacids in use are magnesia, lime, and their carbonates, and the carbonates of potash and soda. ANT^US (an-te'us), the giant son of Poseidon (Neptune), and Ge (the earth), who was invincible so long as he was in contact with the earth. Heracles (Her- cules) grasped him in his arms and stifled him suspended in the air. ANTALKAXI, a substance which neutralizes an alkali, and is used medici- nally to counteract an alkaline tendency in the system. All true acids have this power. ANTANANARIVO, the capital of Madagascar, situated in the central province of Imerina. It has manufac- tures of metal work, cutlery, silk, etc., and exports sugar, soap, and oil. Pop. about 100,000. (See Madagascar.) ANTARCTICA, one of the names given to the region around the South Pole. ANTARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. See Arctic and Antarctic Explorations. ANTARCTIC OCEAN, the ocean situ- ated about, or within, the Antarctic Cir- cle. The great Southern Ocean is that part of the ocean which surrounds the world in one continuous band between 1h? latitude of 40° S. and the Antarctic Circle. This band is only partially inter- rupted by the southern prolongation of South America. The northern portions of this band are often called the South Atlantic, South Indian, and South Pa- cific, while the southern portions are usually called the Antarctic Ocean. The average depth of the continuous ocean surrounding the South Polar Land is about 2 miles; it gradually shoals to- ward Antarctic Land, which in some places is met with a short distance with- in the Antarctic Circle, The "Challen- ger" found 1,800 fathoms near the An- tarctic Circle S. of Kerguelen, but Ross records a much greater depth in the same latitude S. of the Sandwich group. Only three navigators, Cook, Weddell, and Ross, have crossed the 70th parallel S. Of several other expeditions that have crossed the Antarctic Circle the most not- able was the "Challenger," in 1874, the only steam vessel that had visited these seas. The majority of Antarctic voyagers have discovered land S. of the 60th par- allel. Cook in 71° S. and 107° W. Bellings- hausen discovered Peter Island and Alex- ander Land; D'Urville discovered Adelie Land. Wilkes found land extending from the 100th to the 160th meridian of E. longitude between the parallels of 65" and 67° S. Ross discovered Victoria Land, and in February, 1841, sailed along its coasts within sight of the high mountain ranges, 7,000 to 10,000 feet above the sea, as far as 78° S. The mountain range here terminated in an active volcano, Mount Erebus, 12,000 feet in height. His farther progress was stopped by an icy barrier 150 to 200 feet in height, along which he sailed to the E. for 300 miles. Till 1895, Ross and D'Urville alone suc- ceeded in setting foot on land within the Antarctic Circle. Vegetation was found on it in 1895; land animals have not been seen. Whales, grampuses, seals, penguins,^ petrels, albatrosses, and other oceanic birds abound. Diatoms are very abundant in the surface-waters, and their dead f rustules form a pure white deposit called diatom ooze, about the latitude of 60°, outside the blue muds which surround the continent. The mean temperature both of the air and sea, S. of 63° S., is even in summer below the freezing point of sea water. Between 60° and 63° S., a sensible rise takes place, temperature as high as 38° F. being recorded both of sea and air in March. The barometric pres- sure within the Antarctic regions appears to be low, considerably under 29.000 inches. The winds blow cyclonically in toward the Pole from the Southern Ocean, carrying with them much moisture. The fall of rain and snow is estimated as about equal to a rainfall of 30 inches annually. For the latest results of Ant- arctic discovery See ARCTIC AND ANT- ARCTIC Explorations. ANT EATER, English name of the animals belonging to the genus viyrme- coplmga of Linnaeus. ^ They have a lengthened muzzle terminated by a small, toothless mouth, from which they pro- trude a long, threadlike tongue, covered with viscous saliva. This they thrust into the nets of termites, or those of ants proper, sucking the animals which ad- here to it into their mouths. Their claws are strong, and are used for tearing to pieces the structures erected by the ter- mites. Among the species may be enu- merated the M. jabata, the great or maned ant eater, which has four toes before and five behind, and the M, didactyla, the