182 APHIDES REARED BY ANTS. 



We have also often noticed the Aphis of the plum-tree and 

 others, fastened on by another infester of a parasitic nature, in 

 the shape of a bright scarlet Mite, not to be detached from 

 the body of its victim so long as life remains. 



But enough of Aphis enemies; and now for the friends, 

 which, as well as foes, they owe to the possession of their 

 honied treasures. We have hitherto seen our flocks of the leaf, 

 appropriated as sheep for the slaughter ; but those to whom 

 this fact, however new, will appear nothing strange, may smile 

 incredulous, on being told that as " milch kine '' they are 

 sometimes kept, tended, and even reared by insect proprietors, 

 for the sake of the sweet milk the honev-dew which 



ts 



they afford. In our history of " Fair-weather Friends/' 

 we have already adverted to this patriarchal practice, and 

 have, therefore, only to remind our readers that it is exercised 

 among various tribes of economic Ants, though the Yellow 

 Ant* has been termed the greatest cow-keeper of them 

 all. It may require some time and trouble to become 

 witnesses ourselves of this marvellous instance of Formic 

 economy, already proved beyond a doubt by the observations 

 of others ; but everybody has an opportunity of noticing 

 that Ants and Aphides are held together by some bond of 

 union. They are continually seen in company, and a little 

 further scrutiny presently discovers that the Ants are the 

 followers of the Aphides, and entirely for what they can get 



* Formica Jlava. 



