WITH THE PUCERONS. 225 
I knew where all the other ants sought 
and obtained their nourishment; but I 
could not ascertain what these did to 
exist, and what aliment they could fur- 
nish themselves with, without quitting 
their habitation; when, one day, having 
turned up the earth of which their nest 
was composed, to discover if they had 
any provision, I found it to contain the 
pucerons. I saw them at the roots of the 
grass which surrounded the ant-hill. ‘They 
were assembled in considerable numbers, 
and were of different species: the most 
common, were of a flesh colour and of a 
round form; others were white, and had 
the body more flattened; but they were 
of the same genus. There were also some 
that were green and violet coloured, 
others with black and green rays; the 
latter stood higher upon their legs, and 
were much longer. Some were removed 
to a great depth, attached to the deeper 
part of the roots; others were wandering 
about in the midst of the ants, either in 
the upper or under-ground chambers. 
L 4 
