210 RELATION. OF ANTS 
other with extreme rapidity. If it so 
happen, that we can prove they know 
how to impart information to insects, not 
of their own species, we must conclude 
they have been singularly favoured by 
nature. 
2. The Intimacy of Ants with the Pucerons. 
WE know that a great number of vege- 
tables furnish provision to the Pucerons 
or Aphides. ‘These insects fix themselves 
upon the leaves, or small branches, and 
insinuate their trunk or sucker between 
the fibres of the bark, where they find 
the most substantial nourishment. <A 
portion of this aliment, shortly after 
being taken, is expelled, under the 
form of small limpid drops, either by 
the natural passage, or by two horns, 
that we commonly observe on the pos- 
terior part of the body. This fluid con- 
stitutes the principal support of the ants. 
We have already noticed, that they wait 
the moment when the pucerons eject 
