“ 
WITH THE PUCERONS. 215 
shortening the period of their evacua- 
tions, which may be ascertained by the 
size of the drops they produce; and, in 
that case, they never eject it to a dis- 
tance. We might even say, they are very 
careful in retaining it, for the purpose of 
placing it within their immediate reach. 
It sometimes happens, that the ants are 
- too abundant upon the same plant, and, 
therefore, exhaust the pucerons that 
coverit. Under this circumstance, they 
vainly attempt to play with their an- 
tenn upon the body of these insects ; 
they are obliged to wait until the puce- 
rons have replenished themselves by a 
further ration drawn from the branches. 
The pucerons are not avaricious, and 
never resist the solicitation of the ants, 
when in a state to satisfy them. I have 
often seen the same individual grant, 
successively, several drops of this fluid 
to different ants, who appeared extremely 
anxious to obtain it. The Brown Ant 
is not the only ant endowed with this art, 
although it is certainly one of the most 
