Ma,ch,s,Al PSYCHE. 357 



One dav in Novembei , .inxioiis to know them in their months. They did not quit 



if the jellow ants began to bury themselves these eggs a single instant; they took 



in their subterranean chambers, I destroyed them up, turned them, and after liaving 



witli care one of their habitations, story l)y surveyed them with affectionate regard 



storv. I Iiad not advanced far in this conveyed tliem with extreme tenderness 



attempt, when I discovered an apartment to the little chamber of earth I had placed 



containing an assemblage of little eggs, at their disposal. They were not, however, 



wliich were for the most part of the color the eggs of ants; we know that these are 



of ebony. Several ants surrounded and extremely white, becoming transparent as 



appeared to take great care of them, and they increase in age, but never acquire a 



endeavored, as quickly as possible, to color essentially different. I was for a 



convey them from mv sight. I seized long time unacquainted with the origin of 



upon this chamber, its inhabitants, and those of which I have just spoken, and by 



the treasure it contained. cliance, discovered that they contained 



The ants did not abandon these eggs to little pucerons; but it was not these 



make their escape; a stronger instinct individual eggs I saw them quit, it \vas 



retained them. They hastened to conceal other eggs which were a little larger, 



them under the small dwelling which I found in the nests of yellow ants, and of 



held in my hand, and when I reached home a particular species. On opening the ant 



I drew them from it to observe them more hill I discovered several chambers con- 



attentivelv. Viewed with a microscope they taining a great number of brown eggs, 



appeared nearly of the form of ants' eggs. The ants were extremely jealous of them, 



but their color was entirely different. The carrying them away, and quickly, too, to 



greater part were black: others were of a ihe bottom of the nest, disputing and con- 



cloudv yellow. I found them in several ant- tending for them with a zeal which left 



hills, and obtained them of different degrees me no doubt of the strong attachment 



in shade. They \vere not all black and with which they regard them, 

 yellow; some were brown, of a slight and Desirous of conciliating their interests 



and also of a brilliant red and white; others as well as my own, I took the ants and 



were of a color less distinct, as a straw their treasure and placed thetti in such a 



color, grevish, etc. I remarked they were Tuanner that I might easily observe them, 



not of the same color at both extremities. These eggs were never abandoned. The 



To observe them more closely I placed ants took the same care of them as the 



them in the cover of a box faced with glass. former. The following day I saw one of 



They were collected in a heap like the eggs these eggs open, and a puceron fully 



of ants. Their guardians seemed to value formed, having a large trunk, quit it. 1 



ihem highly; after having visited them knew it to be a puceron of the oak; the 



they placed one part in the earth, but I others were disclosed a few days aftci . 



witnessed the attention they bestowed upon and the greater number in my presenci-. 



the rest: they approached them slightly They set immediately about sucking the 



separating their pincers; passed their jnice from some branches of the tree I gave 



tongue between each, extended them, them, and the ants now found within their 



then walked alternately over them, deposit- reach a recompense for their care and 



ing I believe a liquid substance as they attention. 



ir 



nroceeded. They appeared to treat them ryi, ■ • » i • ti 



•^ , , r , • This recompense consisted ni tl 



exactly as if they were the eggs of their ,. . , , , „ ,11 1 



own "species: they touched them with liqmd " honey-dew excreted by the 



their antennae, and frequently carried aphides. 



