REPLY TO PHILORUSTICrS. 113 



could, would lay hold on the caterpillars and march oft' with them 

 down the tree ; though their progress was frequently much impeded 

 by their struggling prey, who took every opportunity to hold them- 

 selves fast by the limbs ; but to no purpose : the ants would tug them 

 loose and then hold them in such a position as to prevent further annoy- 

 ance. Arrived at the bottom of the tree, our warriors or robbers took 

 the direct route to their encampment some nine or ten yards distant, 

 where, I suppose, they initiated their captives into their subterranean 

 mysteries. Now, Mr. Rusticus, I don't write this letter to give you any 

 new information, (for I suppose all such things are old news to you,) 

 but to request information of you. You will probably smile at my sim- 

 plicity or ignorance, but that shall not deter me from learning of you 

 whatever I can. One thing, that I should like to inquire of you, is : 

 whether ants and caterpillars have eyes, and, if they have, whether they 

 make .use of them ? For certainly from the observations that I made 

 on the above occasion, I should infer that they either had none at all or 

 else very bad ones, and didn't use them. As to the caterpillar, for in- 

 stance, if it thought itself safe, it would not move till it was in the jaws 

 of the ant, though it might have seen the little depredator approaching, 

 if it had chosen to look about. And as to the ant, it would repeatedly 

 pass its prey and not appear to know that it was so near, till at last it 

 stumbled upon it. Another thing is : do ants eat caterpillars ? or what 

 do they do with them ? There is no doubt, Mr. Rusticus, if you will 

 consent to explain these things you will aflbrd instruction to others be- 

 sides, 



Your obedient servant, 



Philorusticus. 



REPLY TO THE ABOVE. 



I am always happy to communicate all the information T possess on 

 any subject, and therefore, with pleasure, proceed to reply to my un- 

 known correspondent.. I have not " smiled at his simplicity and ignor^ 

 ance," but admire his patience of observation, and vigor of description. 

 The ants were capturing the caterpillars and conveying them to the for- 

 micary, not for the purpose of " eating them" entire, but of sucking the 

 juices of their bodies. I presume that the aphides (Plant-lice) which 

 are the regular milch cows of these little creatures, were not abundant 

 in that vicinity, and they therefore took the best they could get. A ^g\v 

 facts will show their habits in this respect. Sometimes ants will haul a 

 dead cockroach, which is bigger than a hundred of them, to their nest. 

 A multitude will take hold of him and lift hun up — some go ahead to 

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