234 RELATION OF ANTS’ 
contained an extensive family of pu- 
cerons, from whom the. Brown Ants 
peaceably received their food, sheltered 
from the rain and sun, and-safe from the 
invasion of foreign ants; no insect 
could disturb them, and the pucerons 
were not exposed to the attacks of their 
various enemies. I admired this trait of 
their industry ; but I soon observed it 
on a more extensive scale, and with 
greater interest, among ants of a different 
species. 
Some Red Ants had constructed around 
the foot of a thistle a cylinder of earth, 
two inches and a half in length, by one 
and a half in breadth. The ant-hill lay 
below, and communicated directly with 
this tunnel. I took the branch, with 
its contents, and found that portion of 
the stem comprised in the tunnel, fur- 
nished with pucerons. I presently saw 
go out, by the opening which I had 
made at its base, a few ants, who seemed. 
much astonished at the light appearing in 
that place. I perceived they were living 
