252 SPECIES NOT 



to the camp of the aphides, and stimulating 

 these insects with their antennae, by which it is 

 assumed they are made to excrete honey-dew, 

 upon which the ants feed. The reviewer will 

 perhaps be surprised to hear that the whole 

 statement is founded upon one of those erroneous 

 observations which too often find their way into 

 works upon natural history. Anyone who will 

 take the trouble of making the observation with 

 care for himself, will be convinced of the fol- 

 lowing facts: 1st. That the excretion of honey- 

 dew goes on pari passu with the amount of 

 juice obtained by the aphis from the plant upon 

 which it feeds. 2nd. This excretion is entirely 

 independent of any irritation caused by the an- 

 tennas of the ants. 3rd. The ants have no 

 intention by the movement of their antenna? of 

 exciting the aphides to excrete; such motion 

 being always observed in the ant when it is 

 eagerly expecting food, whether it be the excre- 

 ment of the aphis, or sugar placed by the 

 observer. 



The experiment is very easily performed. Get 

 if possible, an apricot or peach, or some round 

 fruit covered with aphides, and place it under 

 a glass on a sheet of white paper. In two hours 

 there will be a ring of glistening honey-dew on 

 the paper all round the fruit, while, at the same 

 time, the natural excretion of the insect will be 

 going on. Now introduce one or two ants. At 

 first they will be considerably frightened, instead 

 of trembling with watery mouths for the expected 



