276 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



at maturity these ant-cow larvae transform into little dark 



objects appearing like excrescences, feeding on the juice of 

 the flower stems, and then the ants no 

 longer attend them. At this late period in 

 their life history, the full-grown ant-cows 

 have gained jinnping powers which they 

 are quick to exercise when disturbed. Two 

 stages of the larvae and one of the humped- 

 back adults, greatly magnified, are depicted 

 in the illustration. 



Peeping up almost everywhere, the small 

 pale \iolet-c()lored blossoms of pennyroyal 

 are the most e^■ident representative of the 

 mint family. It makes up for its small .size 

 in the great numbers present and its odor- 

 ous scent. Here the little tubular flowers 

 bearing a three-lobed imderlip are visited 

 by honey bees, while the larger bumble 

 bees do not di.sdain taking their sip of 

 honey. The dai.sy fleabane finds little 

 opportunity to crowd its multitude and 

 thickly set neighbors, and only occasionally 

 it shows its white-fringed, yellow-centred 

 blossoms. 



On a previous visit to the meadow in 

 May, I noticed a small open space on the 

 ground about eight feet across, which was 

 covered with a rich carpet of moss. Now 

 it has become completely transformed. The 

 surrounding ground which formerly sup- 

 ported few plants that were more than two 

 inches in height is now covered with tall 



The Tree Hoppers rank growth. The mossy spot has been 

 (PublHia eonrava); clo.sed over by the false buckwheat entwin- 

 ing itself in pretty festoons and forming 

 a bower. 



In the meadow one may find that the 

 rain has replenished the water in the small 



pond beyond the copse. At the margin, set off by a sur- 



larra, pupa, and 

 adult iusectn, liv- 

 ing o)i the stems 

 of the black- 

 eyed siisan. 



