236 RELATION OF ANTS 
poplar-tree, at that place where it quitted 
the trunk. The ants arrived at this spot 
‘by passing through the interior of the 
‘tree, which was hollow, and thus screened 
from observation, they reached their 
pucerons by an opening at the beginning 
of the branch. The tunnel was formed 
of decayed wood, and of the earth about 
the tree. I saw several ants engaged in 
bringing pellets in their mouths, to 
repair the breaches I had made. ‘These 
proceedings are by no means of common 
occurrence; we cannot attribute them to 
an habitual routine. 
There are some ants who receive their 
nourishment from the pucerons inhabiting 
the common plantain: they are gene- 
-vally stationed under the flower; but 
when this falls to the ground, and the 
stem withers, which happens about the 
-end of August, they retire for shelter 
- under the radical leaves of the plant ; the 
_ ants follow, and enclose them, by walling 
up with moist. earth all the space be- 
tween the ground and the margin of 
