(J 



Perhaps no creatures are more indifferent to tlie world outside 

 their own than ants. They liave no idle moments. Tliere are so 

 many interestino; features of their daily life tliat it is liard to suo-- 

 gest one for special study. I think, liowever, that our boys and 

 girls will like best to learn about their cows and liow tliey take 

 care of tliem. 



Along any roadside where plants are growing you will find aphids 

 or ])]ant-lice. These little insects are useful to ants in nuich the way 

 that cows are to people. They provide food for them. 



Have you ever 

 noticed a sticky, 

 shiny substance on 

 the leaves of plants ? 

 Sometimes it drops 

 from the trees on 

 the paved streets. 

 This is honev-dew 

 which ants like so 

 well a n d which 

 'aphids give them. 

 There are little 

 tubes on the backs 

 of the aphids. You 

 can see them bv 

 looking through a 

 microscope. They 

 are called honev 

 tubes^ as it was supposed that the honey-dew came from them ; but 

 this is not so. 



Ants take very good care of the aphids. In the picture you will 

 see a "cow shed " which one kind of ant builds for them. It is 

 on a twig of dog wood. Wlien I found it the ants were crowding 

 in at the little door which *you see in front. 1 suppose they were 

 hungry-. Do the ants that build these " cow sheds " live in many 

 places in Xew York State? We hope to lind out from our Junior 

 Naturalists. 



478 



Vagahond-(j(ill on the cottonicood. 



