TWO YO UNG NA TURALISTS. 1 3 1 



himself, lt since it was destined that I was to receive a 

 lesson in strategy from some insects, it was well that 

 it should be from some of good reputation, known to 

 be clever, keeping a house of their own." 



" And herds besides," added Le'on. 



His cousin looked at him with an expression of in- 

 credulity. 



"Herds!' 1 he repeated; "have you then another 

 history to narrate?" 



" Yes, and a true one. You have had an illustration 



BED ANT (Formica rufa, Latr.). 



of the great love ants have for sugar. Now, as perhaps 

 you are aware, it is a curious fact that the aphides, of 

 which we have already spoken, have the faculty of 

 exuding a sugary substance. The watchful ants, 

 always busy, long since discovered the existence of this 

 natural source of sweetness, and as timidity is one of 

 the last of their defects, they calmly go and milk the 

 aphides, without, however, doing them any harm. 

 Naturally the latter, good-natured and feeble creatures, 

 allow them to do it, not being able, in fact, to prevent 

 it, so that the aphides in question become actually 

 the milch cows of the ants. 



