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and the tortuous stems of Brambles, to the positions of the various tribes of 

 Aphides which they seem to do with perfect ease. Having once got there, how- 

 ever, they remain fixtures so long as the Aphides deposit their clammy sweet, 

 without returning to their nests, as far as my observation goes. Even the large 

 wood Ants ( Formica rufa) attach themselves in bands in this singular manner 

 wherever any huge Thistle has a colony of Aphides upon it ; and there, per- 

 haps, intoxicated with the luscious potion, they remain unconscious of any thing 

 around them but the excitement arising from the continued drain from this living 

 and ever-flowing bowl. Even when a plant thus circumstanced is gathered, the 

 Ants seem very reluctant to forsake it, and unless compelled to leave, will still re- 

 main upon it, though they are conveyed hundreds of miles from their domicile. 

 It is indeed stated by entomologists that Ants keep flocks of Aphides in their nests 

 for the supply of the colony, " milking" them regularly for the use of the inhabit- 

 ants. That they could keep them alive under ground for any length of time, I 

 should think unlikely, though certainly on one occasion I beheld an army of small 

 black Ants engaged most busily in removing all the Aphides from a Raspberry 

 bush in a garden, an operation which they performed with considerable celerity. 

 In general, however, I think they do not remove them from the plants to which 

 they are attached, nor even relieve each other to carry home the delicious spoil, 

 but settle down selfishly to a long luxurious debauch. The Ant, therefore, is not 

 to be considered in the light of an enemy to the Aphid, since he not only does 

 him no injury, but hangs upon and literally incites him to further depredations. 



But a beautiful picture just opens by the water's edge. Behold where that 

 forest of Club-rush ( Scirpus Sylvaticus ) in the marsh, exhibits its delicate white 

 inflorescence ; there the brilliant dark green Dragon Flies (Agrion virgo) are 

 fluttering their purple wings. What tints can match with the golden green of the 

 male, or the splendid emerald hue of the female, as it now rests upon the stem of 

 the Catabrosa aquatica, or sparkles out in the sunbeams, contrasting with the 

 rosy towering spikes of the great Bistort ? Hosts of the Agrion puella too, are 

 lightly balancing their fairy forms of the purest tints of sky blue over the cool 

 waters, or resting upon the opening flower of the yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus J ; 

 while the Libellula depressa with its fine slate blue abdomen, is rushing by on 

 rapid wing, whirling against his rival, and chasing his yellow-tailed partner far 

 over field and hedge, till resting for a moment from the fond pursuit on a dry 

 hedge-stick, he seems, as the sun flashes upon his corselet, to be absolutely inhaling 

 and drinking up the beams of light. But still more beauteous than all flutters 

 the blue-green Agrion virgo, Fab., not mounting high in air, but softly gliding 

 without an effort among the rushes and equiseti of that silver willowed covert by 

 the river's brink, where the tall yellow Loosestrife is spreading out its golden co- 

 rymbs. I love to behold them, for they come only with the established summer, and 

 they sport in the most cool and delicious places, where the zephyr from the river 



